Tony Abbott and his Shadow Minister for Industry, Sophie Mirabella, must come clean on reports they will vote against $300 million in support for the steel industry, announced as part of the Gillard Government’s plan for a clean energy future.

The Government’s Steel Transformation Plan has been welcomed by Australia’s main steel producers, BlueScope and OneSteel, and is on top of assistance that will also be delivered through the Government’s Jobs and Competitiveness Program.

OneSteel chief executive, Geoff Plummer, said: “If the Carbon Tax got passed, I’d be disappointed if the opposition refused to pass this, even if the Greens didn’t.” (The Australian 11 July 2011).

The package was developed in response to specific issues relating to the steel sector – and now Tony Abbott wants to rip this assistance away. Ripping the assistance away will cost jobs and harm the future of the steel industry in moving to a clean energy future.

Yesterday at his press conference, Mr Abbott said:

JOURNALIST: Mr Abbott will you be supporting the Government in the Parliament when it comes to legislation for the steel and coal compensation packages?

ABBOTT: Ashleigh we’re against this, this is a bad tax, it can’t be fixed, it has to be fought. We will be opposing all the Government’s legislation.

Today on ABC AM he again refused to say he would support the steel industry and workers:

HOST: The Government will put its additional steel compensation package through parliament. That will then put the heat on you. Will you pass it?

ABBOTT: Look, this is a bad deal for the steel industry. At best it is a stay of execution, and as I said, Sabra, look and see what happens to employment at Whyalla and Port Kembla, and that’s when we’ll discover whether this really is a good package for the steel industry.

Mr Abbott and Ms Mirabella need to come clean today on where they stand on support for the steel industry and its workers.