WHYALLA STEELWORKS SALE DELAYED BY UP TO SIX MONTHS
By Jessica Dempster
The sale of the Whyalla Steelworks has been delayed by up to six months, with concerns the extended timeline could see skilled workers leave the community.
The delay comes just a week after more than 800 jobs were lost following the permanent closure of the site's blast furnace, with Federal Member for Grey Tom Venning saying the latest development creates further uncertainty for Whyalla.
Mr Venning says the workforce is now a serious concern, as skilled tradespeople and steelworkers consider whether they can remain in Whyalla while the future of the steelworks is decided.
“Workers cannot be expected to put their lives and livelihoods on hold while they wait for a decision. They will move on in search of secure work,” Mr Venning said.
He says losing those workers could create a critical skills shortage when steel production is expected to restart through the new DRI and EAF plant from 2030, potentially leaving the steelworks reliant on a fly-in, fly-out workforce.
Mr Venning is now calling on the State and Federal governments to provide a clear timeframe for securing a buyer and ending the uncertainty, saying workers and the Whyalla community need to know when they can expect a decision on the steelworks' future.
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