Tasmania's Smelter Workers Get Extra Pay, Bailout Worries Loom

0:00Tasmanian Premier, Jeremy Rockliffe, and Federal Industry Minister Tim Ares just rolled out a support package for the 200 workers at Liberty, Bel Bay Smelter. It's three extra weeks of pay after the place went into administration last month. Workers held their breath through a tight deadline that got pushed two days while the deal came together. The Smelter got mothballed nearly a year ago by owner GFG Alliance, leaving folks like systems admin Ben Manian hanging. He calls it better than nothing but admits it's disappointing long-term, especially with a family and mortgage breathing down his neck. Now he's hunting other jobs just to be safe. Precious mounting on Ernst and young administrators to snag a buyer fast, that keeps the public purse from bleeding and the business alive. But early hopes of two to six weeks are fading, insider say could drag two to six months. Governments are fuming at Sanjeev Gupta for deserting the community and stiffing local contractors on millions. Meanwhile, this package stirs bail out worries. Tasmanian is already in debt with its four big industrials all hurting.

1:05Folks point to the $2.4 billion federal lifeline for Gupta's wireless steelworks and $2 billion for real tinto's Boyn Smelter opening, a real can of worms if everyone lines up. As Australia's only manganese alloy smelter, Liberty Bell Bay matters big time nationally and for northern Tasmanian families. Workers deserve a solid buyer this round, not another flop, and government stepping of smarter to lock that in. Local news powered by AI. This is Sydney News Today, I'm Corey with The Story.