Stronger Anti-Dumping Regulation Needed: Australian Paper sent to the wall

27/02/2015 12:00 - 491 Views

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has called on the Federal Government to immediately tighten Australia’s anti-dumping laws in the wake of the closure of Australian Paper’s Shoalhaven mill.

AMWU members are employed at the mill, and the union will work with Australian Paper on their efforts to stay in business.

But the union is calling on the Government to take heed of the announcement and strengthen Australia’s anti-dumping laws.

“Unfair competition from dumped imports was cited by Australian Paper as a key component leading to closure,” said AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian.

“After promising to reverse the onus of proof in anti-dumping cases, the Federal Government has backed away to a much weaker set of anti-dumping reforms.

“We've seen what dumping can do with SPC and now we're seeing it with Australian Paper.

“We need tough reforms, so our system is as tough as any around the world and local companies are able to compete. We need maximum duties to be imposed whenever dumping occurs, no ifs buts or whens,” said Mr. Bastian.

Before the election the Federal Government promised Australian industry a strong anti-dumping regime. We’re yet to see this.

The Government recently released an anti-dumping reform package but it doesn’t go far enough.

Importantly, they backed away from reversing the onus of proof – which was their policy before the election.

“The Government needs to wise up, act to protect Australian jobs and industry, and enact what they committed to,” said Mr. Bastian.

Source: medianet.com.au