THE next South Australian premier must fly to America to meet with Kimberly-Clark Corporation executives to secure a long-term plan for the Millicent Mill according to Independent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell.
Liberal candidate Craig Marsh also vowed to fight to secure the future of the plant as candidates came out following a challenge from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
The union called on candidates to address the “looming crisis of a possible closure” of the mill.
Mr Bell pledged to seek a commitment from the next State Government to safeguard South East jobs.
“I will demand the Premier of South Australia, within the first 100 days of the election, is on a plane to Texas in America and sitting down with the executive of Kimberly-Clark,” he said.
“They would be working through what a State Government can do to secure Kimberly-Clark’s future for the next 50 years in South Australia.”
This follows a recent statement from the CFMEU calling on Mount Gambier’s eight
candidates to put forward policies to deal with the potential fall-out of possible job losses at the mill after US-parent company
Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced it would axe 5000 to 5500 jobs worldwide.
The cut of 12pc of the global workforce will come through the closure or sale of 10 of Kimberly-Clark’s 91 manufacturing factories, with the future of the Millicent Mill secure until at least the end of the year.
CFMEU Forestry Furnishing Building Products and Manufacturing Division national vice president Brad Coates demanded candidates “come out of hiding” to guarantee an ongoing role for the major employer regardless of the company’s intentions.
“So far there have been a number of public forums for candidates and despite the extensive media that has reported this issue, none of the candidates have offered the voters anything on this important issue facing the economy of the lower South East,” he said.
“The mill is the largest single employer in the region employing over 400 people directly and over 3000 indirectly.
“Its closure would result in the devastation of the town of Millicent and severe impacts on the economy of the remainder of the South East.
“While politicians and ‘would be’ politicians are running around talking about all kinds of commitments and getting selfies taken at every good news opportunity, none of them have bothered to get on the front foot and offer those workers and their families any hope of ongoing support.”
Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier Craig Marsh pledged to fight to ensure the mill remained open and fully operational.
“Our forestry industry underpins the foundation of our economy in the South East and supports thousands of jobs,” he said.
“Unfortunately the Weatherill Labor Government’s decision to privatise our forestry assets has meant they are no longer in public hands.
“The South East cannot afford to lose our forestry and I assure the people of Mount Gambier that fighting for our forestry industry will be an absolute priority for me if I’m fortunate enough to be elected.”
In a statement, SA-Best candidate for Mount Gambier Kate Amoroso said the decision to close the mills was driven out of the USA.
“SA-Best supports Australian manufacturing, especially local,” she said.
Greens SA parliamentary leader Mark Parnell said in the event of a closure, the party would propose a South East Transformation Taskforce similar to the taskforce created in response to the Holden closure.
“Such a taskforce would be resourced to help workers find new careers and support local business to transition into new markets,” he said.
“The Greens would divert the tens of millions in handouts to gas companies towards the new South East Transformation Taskforce to help build new industries and new jobs for the future.”
