Liberty Bay Bell workers forced to take time off worry about financial future
Younger workers at troubled manganese alloy smelter Liberty Bell Bay in Tasmania's north have little-to-no accrued leave, according to the Australian Workers' Union.
"The union has received a number of calls from employees concerned they have little-to-no leave balance for that period," Robert Flanagan, from the union told ABC Mornings.
The owner of Liberty Bell Bay, GFG-Alliance, announced yesterday it had no choice but to place the smelter in a period of limited operations, essentially scaling back operations.
The company said the decision was made due to a number of reasons, including ore supply issues, global price volatility and US tariffs.
Liberty Bell Bay produces manganese alloy, which is used to strengthen steel for construction.
"LBB lost its main ore supplier last year due to tropical cyclone Megan, which caused extensive damage to South 32's GEMCO infrastructure, placing pressure on inventory and working capital," a spokesperson for Liberty Bell Bay said on Monday.
"We are still working through ore supply options at present."
There are about 250 workers at Liberty Bell Bay.
They've been asked to take any leave they have owed during the limited operations period. Those without leave have been stood down without pay.
"On the last two occasions that we've had shutdowns, employees have been provided with alternative duties and paid their usual pay.
"The approach the company is proposing on this occasion is a diversion from that, and it is creating significant anxiety."
Mr Flanagan said the limited operations period will commence on June 16 and is scheduled to end a month later on July 13.
"It is possible the date will extend, but it's expected the limited operations will end on July 13," he said.
The union is meeting with GFG-Alliance tomorrow to discuss the worker's concerns.
At this stage, the company said there will be no forced redundancies.
Beams Brothers is a fourth-generation Tasmanian quarry business at Flowery Gully in the West Tamar.
It supplies raw materials to Liberty Bell Bay and employs about 50 people.
"We've known about this for a while, I'm not an expert on it but I definitely know if you look at the information on the raw material I have no doubt that it's right.
"Manganese is not readily available right across the country."
Susie Bower, chief executive of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, said it was not just the direct employees impacted by Liberty Bell Bay's decision to limit operations.
"This has flow-on effects to our supply chain and to our small and medium businesses that support Liberty Bell Bay and their operation, so I'm trying to get that picture together and see what that means for our whole area and supply chain," she said.
Ms Bower said there were also options available for workers considering re-training or other career opportunities.
"We have the Northern Employment Business Hub, which is funded by Jobs Tasmania. That'll be providing support to the local community," she said.
"If any employees are a little uncertain about their future or want to look at other opportunities, we'll certainly provide that to them."
George Town Council mayor, Greg Kieser, said the community was anxious.
"I share those concerns, as I'm sure you can imagine … it's going to be a rocky road," Cr Kieser said.
"The message we're receiving is that there is a scenario where this ends well. They do have a supply chain crunch from one of their suppliers.
"The workers, we want to make sure we retain that staffing there, and that they get some certainty back in their life at the soonest opportunity."
Tasmania's Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he met with Cr Kieser this morning about the situation.
"Last week, I engaged with the prime minister directly, requesting the federal government to support our major employer as a matter of priority," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres has called on GFG-Alliance to be more" transparent" about the issues facing the business and to give the smelter enough support to allow it to continue processing ore.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Second mega Lotto jackpot this week
Just two days after a Tasmanian man became a multi-millionaire in Tuesday's Oz Lotto, $50m is up for grabs in Powerball. It's the fourth biggest Powerball prize since February, when a man from Queensland won $60m. If a ticket holder takes the division one prize on Thursday night, it will take the total winnings to $120m in a single week. A mammoth $50m Powerball jackpot is up for grabs. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia The fortunate Tasmanian man who claimed the entire division one prize earlier this week said he planned to retire immediately, purchase a dream home with his partner and support his family. 'Oh, this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant … I've had a (rough) couple of years,' he said. 'I am just getting back on my feet, and I still have a mortgage when everyone else (my age) is about to retire. I have been saying I will have to work until I am 70, but not now.' The luckiest numbers drawn in Powerball are 9, 7, 17, 11, 3, 23 and 2 and the least drawn numbers are 33, 31, 29, 15, 13, 26 and 8. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia Powerball is Australia's biggest jackpot lottery that has seen 21 people win a total of $524m division one prize pools this year. Last year, a man from South Australia claimed the game's biggest ever individual lottery win in Australia taking home a huge $150m. The luckiest numbers drawn in Powerball are 9, 7, 17, 11, 3, 23 and 2. The least drawn numbers are 33, 31, 29, 15, 13, 26 and 8. Entries to Thursday's draw close at 7.30pm AEST with the draw shortly after.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Lotto's second mega jackpot is up for grabs this week after a Tasmanian man won $70m
Just two days after a Tasmanian man became a multi-millionaire in Tuesday's Oz Lotto, $50m is up for grabs in Powerball. It's the fourth biggest Powerball prize since February, when a man from Queensland won $60m. If a ticket holder takes the division one prize on Thursday night, it will take the total winnings to $120m in a single week. The fortunate Tasmanian man who claimed the entire division one prize earlier this week said he planned to retire immediately, purchase a dream home with his partner and support his family. 'Oh, this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant … I've had a (rough) couple of years,' he said. 'I am just getting back on my feet, and I still have a mortgage when everyone else (my age) is about to retire. I have been saying I will have to work until I am 70, but not now.' Powerball is Australia's biggest jackpot lottery that has seen 21 people win a total of $524m division one prize pools this year. Last year, a man from South Australia claimed the game's biggest ever individual lottery win in Australia taking home a huge $150m. The luckiest numbers drawn in Powerball are 9, 7, 17, 11, 3, 23 and 2. The least drawn numbers are 33, 31, 29, 15, 13, 26 and 8. Entries to Thursday's draw close at 7.30pm AEST with the draw shortly after.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
'A sad day for Tasmania': Premier loses crucial vote, confirms early election
Tasmania's lower house has passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, which means Tasmanians will likely be required to vote in a state election next month. Speaking after a vote intended to boot him from the leadership chair, Mr Rockliff said: "I will not let Labor party choose the leader of the Liberal party." Ahead of the vote, Mr Rockliff said that should the motion succeed, he would have no choice but to visit Government House to seek an election. Another option would be for Labor leader Dean Winter to be called upon to form government with the crossbench, but he has refused to enter into a deal with the Greens. During a break from debate during the day, he said it was his job as opposition leader to stand up for Tasmanians who needed a better government. Labor's no-confidence motion passed 18 votes to 17, with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting her vote in the affirmative. She said by convention, the speaker could vote with impartiality and against party lines, but with conscience. Ms O'Byrne said she had considered the passage of the budget to support public services and sending Tasmanians to an election so soon after the last. She also acknowledged that she recognised that the election would cause disruption to progress on the Macquarie Point stadium and the Tasmanian AFL team. In summing up the debate, Mr Winter said net debt was under $1 billion when Mr Rockliff became premier in 2022, but is projected to reach close to $11 billion in 2028-29. "Labor, absolutely and wholeheartedly, needs to stand for sensible budget management," he said. "We need to stand for that first and foremost, and in order to do that, we need to stop asset sales." Mr Winter said the current budget's trajectory would make it harder for any future government to get ahead. After the vote, Mr Rockliff took to his feet and said it was a sad day for Tasmania. "It is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament," he said. Mr Rockliff said he believed his minority government could work, and it was how parliament should work. "It wasn't easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do," he said. "That's why I'm so disappointed, if not brokenhearted frankly, of what the Tasmanian people who elected us in March 2024 to work together. "And yes, not everything's gone to plan." Mr Rockliff's contribution then turned towards Mr Winter, whom he described as being reckless in bringing on the no-confidence motion to bring him and his government down. "The leader of the opposition has not only diminished this parliament, but himself and his party," he said. "And you might get rid of me, mate, but I tell you what, they're coming for you as well, because you will always be known as a wrecker." Tasmania's lower house has passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, which means Tasmanians will likely be required to vote in a state election next month. Speaking after a vote intended to boot him from the leadership chair, Mr Rockliff said: "I will not let Labor party choose the leader of the Liberal party." Ahead of the vote, Mr Rockliff said that should the motion succeed, he would have no choice but to visit Government House to seek an election. Another option would be for Labor leader Dean Winter to be called upon to form government with the crossbench, but he has refused to enter into a deal with the Greens. During a break from debate during the day, he said it was his job as opposition leader to stand up for Tasmanians who needed a better government. Labor's no-confidence motion passed 18 votes to 17, with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting her vote in the affirmative. She said by convention, the speaker could vote with impartiality and against party lines, but with conscience. Ms O'Byrne said she had considered the passage of the budget to support public services and sending Tasmanians to an election so soon after the last. She also acknowledged that she recognised that the election would cause disruption to progress on the Macquarie Point stadium and the Tasmanian AFL team. In summing up the debate, Mr Winter said net debt was under $1 billion when Mr Rockliff became premier in 2022, but is projected to reach close to $11 billion in 2028-29. "Labor, absolutely and wholeheartedly, needs to stand for sensible budget management," he said. "We need to stand for that first and foremost, and in order to do that, we need to stop asset sales." Mr Winter said the current budget's trajectory would make it harder for any future government to get ahead. After the vote, Mr Rockliff took to his feet and said it was a sad day for Tasmania. "It is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament," he said. Mr Rockliff said he believed his minority government could work, and it was how parliament should work. "It wasn't easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do," he said. "That's why I'm so disappointed, if not brokenhearted frankly, of what the Tasmanian people who elected us in March 2024 to work together. "And yes, not everything's gone to plan." Mr Rockliff's contribution then turned towards Mr Winter, whom he described as being reckless in bringing on the no-confidence motion to bring him and his government down. "The leader of the opposition has not only diminished this parliament, but himself and his party," he said. "And you might get rid of me, mate, but I tell you what, they're coming for you as well, because you will always be known as a wrecker." Tasmania's lower house has passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, which means Tasmanians will likely be required to vote in a state election next month. Speaking after a vote intended to boot him from the leadership chair, Mr Rockliff said: "I will not let Labor party choose the leader of the Liberal party." Ahead of the vote, Mr Rockliff said that should the motion succeed, he would have no choice but to visit Government House to seek an election. Another option would be for Labor leader Dean Winter to be called upon to form government with the crossbench, but he has refused to enter into a deal with the Greens. During a break from debate during the day, he said it was his job as opposition leader to stand up for Tasmanians who needed a better government. Labor's no-confidence motion passed 18 votes to 17, with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting her vote in the affirmative. She said by convention, the speaker could vote with impartiality and against party lines, but with conscience. Ms O'Byrne said she had considered the passage of the budget to support public services and sending Tasmanians to an election so soon after the last. She also acknowledged that she recognised that the election would cause disruption to progress on the Macquarie Point stadium and the Tasmanian AFL team. In summing up the debate, Mr Winter said net debt was under $1 billion when Mr Rockliff became premier in 2022, but is projected to reach close to $11 billion in 2028-29. "Labor, absolutely and wholeheartedly, needs to stand for sensible budget management," he said. "We need to stand for that first and foremost, and in order to do that, we need to stop asset sales." Mr Winter said the current budget's trajectory would make it harder for any future government to get ahead. After the vote, Mr Rockliff took to his feet and said it was a sad day for Tasmania. "It is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament," he said. Mr Rockliff said he believed his minority government could work, and it was how parliament should work. "It wasn't easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do," he said. "That's why I'm so disappointed, if not brokenhearted frankly, of what the Tasmanian people who elected us in March 2024 to work together. "And yes, not everything's gone to plan." Mr Rockliff's contribution then turned towards Mr Winter, whom he described as being reckless in bringing on the no-confidence motion to bring him and his government down. "The leader of the opposition has not only diminished this parliament, but himself and his party," he said. "And you might get rid of me, mate, but I tell you what, they're coming for you as well, because you will always be known as a wrecker." Tasmania's lower house has passed a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff, which means Tasmanians will likely be required to vote in a state election next month. Speaking after a vote intended to boot him from the leadership chair, Mr Rockliff said: "I will not let Labor party choose the leader of the Liberal party." Ahead of the vote, Mr Rockliff said that should the motion succeed, he would have no choice but to visit Government House to seek an election. Another option would be for Labor leader Dean Winter to be called upon to form government with the crossbench, but he has refused to enter into a deal with the Greens. During a break from debate during the day, he said it was his job as opposition leader to stand up for Tasmanians who needed a better government. Labor's no-confidence motion passed 18 votes to 17, with Speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting her vote in the affirmative. She said by convention, the speaker could vote with impartiality and against party lines, but with conscience. Ms O'Byrne said she had considered the passage of the budget to support public services and sending Tasmanians to an election so soon after the last. She also acknowledged that she recognised that the election would cause disruption to progress on the Macquarie Point stadium and the Tasmanian AFL team. In summing up the debate, Mr Winter said net debt was under $1 billion when Mr Rockliff became premier in 2022, but is projected to reach close to $11 billion in 2028-29. "Labor, absolutely and wholeheartedly, needs to stand for sensible budget management," he said. "We need to stand for that first and foremost, and in order to do that, we need to stop asset sales." Mr Winter said the current budget's trajectory would make it harder for any future government to get ahead. After the vote, Mr Rockliff took to his feet and said it was a sad day for Tasmania. "It is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament," he said. Mr Rockliff said he believed his minority government could work, and it was how parliament should work. "It wasn't easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do," he said. "That's why I'm so disappointed, if not brokenhearted frankly, of what the Tasmanian people who elected us in March 2024 to work together. "And yes, not everything's gone to plan." Mr Rockliff's contribution then turned towards Mr Winter, whom he described as being reckless in bringing on the no-confidence motion to bring him and his government down. "The leader of the opposition has not only diminished this parliament, but himself and his party," he said. "And you might get rid of me, mate, but I tell you what, they're coming for you as well, because you will always be known as a wrecker."
