Pasin slams Albanese and Malinauskas Governments over Nyrstar Package while Wine Grape Growers continue to be ignored

Pasin slams Albanese and Malinauskas Governments over Nyrstar Package while Wine Grape Growers continue to be ignored

Tony Pasin MP has condemned the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments for their latest $135 million bail-out of the Nyrstar Port Pirie and Hobart smelters in circumstances where South Australian wine grape growers continue to be ignored.

“It seems the answer to every industrial challenge in this State is a taxpayer-funded cheque—unless, of course, you’re a wine grape grower.”

Mr Pasin said the people of Barker were growing tired of watching government funds flow to often internationally owned, major industrial players while their own communities were treated to nothing but lip service.

“The people of Barker are sick and tired of subsidising jobs in other parts of our state,” he said.

Mr Pasin said the Albanese Government’s refusal to support wine grape growers demonstrated a clear double standard in how taxpayer dollars are allocated.

“It’s insulting, unjust and unconscionable,” he said.

“Labor will open up the treasury chequebook for unionised workforces working in Port Pirie and Whyalla, but when it comes to struggling grape growers employing thousands in regional communities—they’re simply ignored.”

But Mr Pasin says the deeper problem is not being acknowledged—namely spiralling energy costs that are crippling Australian industry.

“This isn’t just about Port Pirie or Whyalla or indeed South Australia—it’s about the cost of doing business in Australia full stop,” he said.

“The real reason manufacturers are lining up for government handouts is because the cost of energy is crippling them.”

Mr Pasin said Labor’s pursuit of a Net Zero emissions target was driving up costs and undermining the competitiveness of local industries.

“These costly bail outs are the direct result of Labor’s obsession with Net Zero,” Mr Pasin said.

“Our Nation’s energy policies under Anthony Albanese’s Labor Government are being driven by ideology, and not economics—and everyday Australians are paying the cost of that, often more than once!.”