The Liberty Bell Bay smelter has been operating in receivership since January and under administration since March. Photo: Liberty Bell Bay.
Administrators for the troubled Liberty Bell Bay manganese alloy plant in northern Tasmania have accepted a $3 million lifeline from the Federal and Tasmanian governments as they continue to search for a buyer for the site.
The plant on the Tamar River north of Launceston is Australia’s only domestic producer of manganese alloy, which is critical for steelmaking, but has been in receivership since January and under administration by Ernst & Young (EY) since March, when the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) sought to wind up the plant owner, GFG Alliance.
The $3 million loan will be funded 50:50 by the Federal and State governments. It follows a $20 million investment in January by the Tasmanian Government to ensure production continued at the plant while under receivership, but the smelter has been unable to resume full-rate production.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the loan was designed to support the plant workforce.
“We’re backing the workers, their families and the community through this sale process because this facility and these jobs matter,” he said.
“I thank the State Government and all local MPs for working with us to support Australian manufacturing.
“We need to build more things here as a country — and that includes in Northern Tasmania.”
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff echoed the Prime Minister’s comments.
“We are in the corner of workers, their families and impacted small businesses,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Liberty is the only manganese smelter in the country, and we have invested to support the workers and keep this sovereign capability in Northern Tasmania.
“Our government established the Bell Bay Response Team and we provided a $20 million loan for ore to restart operations at Liberty.”
Mr Rockliff said his government had been in regular contact with the Federal Government to coordinate the loan.
“Recognising that there is still more to do, I want to thank everyone from all sections of the community for rallying around the workers to save Liberty Bell Bay,” he said.
“Strong cooperation between state, federal and local government has been really important to date and I want to thank our Liberal Members for Bass, Bridget Archer, Rob Fairs and Michael Ferguson, and local members for Windermere, Nick Duigan, and Rosevears, Jo Palmer, for their very strong advocacy and focus on the wellbeing and jobs of the local workers.”
Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres said although the loan was good news for the Bell Bay community, there was more work to be done.
“I look forward to a successful sale of Liberty Bell Bay — and welcome a new owner who will look after this facility for what it is: a critical part of the steelmaking supply chain,” he said.
“I thank Jess Teesdale for advocating for her community, as well as the workers, unions and local suppliers, and the State Government, for pulling together to get this positive outcome.”
