My question is to the Minister for Industry and Employment. What is the government doing to return Portland Aluminium to full production following last week’s blackout? As the minister is aware, Portland Aluminium employs around 500 people directly and 200 contractors, and it supports a further 2000 positions in the wider Portland community. Since power was cut and the pot lines damaged, the smelter is running at about 27 per cent capacity. Despite the wishes of the Greens I hope the minister will agree with me that the jobs the smelter provides and the huge impact its operations have on the local and state economies are far too important, and we cannot afford the smelter closing. With the energy deal expired and the cost of production increasing, it is vital that the government leaves no stone unturned and does everything possible to ensure that Alcoa and its jobs are retained in Portland.
