Liberty Bell Bay Workers Face Wage Crisis

0:00It's April 16th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Sydney News Today, your AI-powered local news. Workers at Liberty Bell Bay, Australia's only manganese smelter, just got tough news from administrators Ernst and Young. At a town hall meeting, they learn most of the 216 employees won't get paid after the current cycle ends on April 24th. Those workers are owed more than $7.4 million in wages, leave, and other entitlements. This comes after the smelter shut down last year, when billionaire Sanjeev Gupta's GFG alliance collapsed. Private equity firm White Oak put the site into administration in late March, and a last minute deal kept pay going until next Friday. Now, only a skeleton crew stays on for care and maintenance while admins review interest from about a dozen potential buyers. Officials are furious, calling it the worst-case scenario for workers, the town of Georgetown and Tasmania. Assistant National Secretary Chris Donovan says losing the workforce could kill any

1:02sale, since buyers expect skilled staff ready to go. Local leaders echo that, urging governments to step in and cover wages to keep things viable, state officials flat-out refused, saying they can't fund private wages during administration and pointing fingers at White Oak. Federally, there's no commitment yet, but labor MP Justizdale showed up at the meeting, and funding isn't ruled out down the line. With buyer interest high, but the clock ticking passed April 24th. The fights on to save jobs and the smelter that means so much to the. Region unions hope pressure builds for a lifeline before it's too late.