The Australian Workers' Union has announced that it welcomed the passage of the Steel Transformation Plan through the Senate, which will provide an AUD 300 million lifeline for the Australian steel industry.

Mr Paul Howes national secretary of The Australian Workers' Union said that "The AWU has been fighting to support the steel industry in this country for generations, it's the backbone of Australian manufacturing. We fought tooth and nail to get the right support for our manufacturing sectors through the debate on carbon pricing, including a special, sectoral package for steel."

He added that "This is a plan backed by both BlueScope and One Steel, because they know this legislation is crucial to helping the industry navigate the economic uncertainty ahead. It's sensible, considered policy designed to save steel jobs, helping steelmakers through the transition to a price on carbon and supporting them as they invest and innovate."

Mr Howes said every that Coalition MP who voted against the Steel Transformation Plan should hang their head in shame. He added that "The Liberal National Coalition has lost all credibility on manufacturing. Mr Tony Abbott looked steelworkers in the eye and told them he’d back them, then he turned around in Parliament and voted against a package to save steel. On top of that, we've had Mr Barnaby Joyce frothing at the mouth every chance he gets, pushing a whole load of hot air about jobs in manufacturing and other sectors."

He added that "What Mr Barnaby skims over during his beetroot faced tirades is that he and his Coalition colleagues voted against AUD 300 million in funding to secure steel jobs. Our members are rightly outraged that at a time like this, when manufacturing is facing it’s worst crisis since the Great Depression, the Coalition would move to block support for steel. That sort of recklessness might be good enough for the Opposition, but it’s not good enough for our members and it's definitely not good enough for the broader Australian steel industry."