NSW South Coast Labour Council - Turning points in history are rarely signposted

Turning points in history are rarely signposted. It’s like putting an old newspaper photograph under a magnifying glass – all you see is a lot of dots and shades of black and white. You need to step back to get the picture.

 

The trouble is, by the time the true picture of history comes into sharp focus, it’s too late to change it. Doors that are open today may be shut tomorrow and opportunities that may be available now may not exist later.

 

Leadership is the ability to not only identify these critical points in time but to mobilize communities to act and seize the opportunities as they present themselves.

 

The people of the Illawarra, have learnt this the hard way. In the 1980s our region took a huge hit. Tens of thousand of jobs were lost, many coal mines shut, but the steel industry was saved. It was a tough choice at the time and a painfully difficult period for workers in this area, their families and our community as a whole.

 

Back then, there was no silver lining, it was a question of survival. Sticking your head in the sand was not an option, decisions had to be made and workers had to choose whether to play a part in the decisions or have the decisions made for them. Looking back, it’s obvious to most of us now that it was the right call. We wouldn’t have a steel industry to save otherwise.

 

Fast forward 30 years and the region finds itself at the crossroads once more. Our industrial base is under threat from the same global economic pressures it has faced since the 80’s and in particular the rise of the Australian dollar.

 

Only this time there is another factor, an imminent price on carbon as our nation moves to play its part to stem human induced climate change that threatens our environment and the quality of life of our children and future generations. Many, particularly from the opposition benches, were quick to denounce it, before they had even seen it. They labeled it as another tax that will kick the steel and manufacturing industries when they are down and lead to the end of industry as we know it in the Illawarra.

 

The problem for the doomsayers is that they spoke to soon. This package effectively shields the steel and other related industries from the carbon tax and is in fact likely to pump more in than it takes out. That’s why the steel bosses say they are satisfied with the package and why unions say that it is a good deal for steel.

 

But this is not the end of the story. Unlike the 1980s, the package on the table comes with more than $10 billion dollars in investment funds to kick start major projects in regional Australia and to drive renewable energy and other green job projects. This is no sideshow, it is the main game and offers a once in a generation opportunity for our region to transform and build on our existing industries to create jobs for the future.

 

It’s now our call. Will we wait on the sidelines and have our history written for us or will we have the courage and vision to secure a better future for our region and our children?

Arthur Rorris
Secretary
South Coast Labour Council
NSW

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