Andrew Giles MP, Federal Member for Scullin, today expressed his dismay at the announcement by Heinz Australia of the closure of its Golden Circle factory in Mill Park.
‘Today’s announcement by Heinz Australia is a crushing blow to the 123 employees who will be made redundant. My thoughts go out to the employees and their families who are now facing an uncertain future,’ said Mr Giles.
‘These are good jobs that the Federal and State Governments should be fighting to protect.’
‘The Abbott and Napthine Government have no plans for manufacturing and no plans for jobs in the North, and these employees and their families are paying the price,’ said Mr Giles.
‘Whilst I welcome Golden Circle’s pledge to honour its employees’ entitlements and to provide them with counselling and outplacement services, there are still questions to be answered,’ said Mr Giles.
In October 2011, Heinz Australia announced plans to invest over $10 million over four years in the Mill Park factory to install robotic palletisation to improve efficiency.
‘This is a breach of faith with the employees at this factory who were lead to believe that Heinz Australia was committed to operating out of Mill Park,’ said Mr Giles.
‘What has changed in two years that all of a sudden the Mill Park factory is too small and no longer commercially viable?’ asked Mr Giles.
‘I am ready to help where I can, and I call on the Abbott and Napthine Governments to do the same,’ said Mr Giles.