Back to the national press club and Ed Husic is still being asked about tariffs and Australian exports. Is he confident Australia will get the exemption?

Husic:

It is important to recognise the breadth of work that has been done across government through different ministers and through the arms of government to make the case to the Americans. I wouldn’t underestimate the impact of that and all the other factors I have said earlier.

In the last 24/48 hours it has been a massive issue here in Australia but I am actively engaged with the aluminium sector. We announced our $2 billion plan to see aluminium manufacture well into the future. Which sustains jobs in regional blue collar communities across the country. I have a deep personal interest in that as a son of a metal worker myself.

I am proud going to Portland seeing Alcoa’s operations and seeing loaded up lines and lines of aluminium and where countries are paying a premium price for that and 100% of that product that is made in Portland in Victoria is being exported, defying the people who say we can’t compete in manufacturing and people know we make a quality product.

The world has a high demand for our aluminium. We need it as part of the transition to net zero and there is a healthy future for Australian aluminium and the question is for our American friends “do you want to pay more for that product that you have got a big demand for?”

We will work through all those issues.