Mark Vassella, BlueScope Managing Director and CEO, will Address the National Press Club of Australia on “Australian gas prices are costing us our manufacturing, jobs, energy transition, and a future made in Australia”.
Australian manufacturing is at a dangerous crossroads.
If industry and government are smart enough to navigate these conditions safely, it will determine whether the manufacturing sector can remain viable in Australia and whether the Federal Government’s “Future Made in Australia” economic policy is achievable.
This looming risk to manufacturing is the result of the long-standing dysfunction of the domestic gas market and the lack of a fair gas price for Australian customers.
Today, on behalf of all 12 members of Manufacturing Australia, I’m proud to officially launch Manufacturing Australia’s campaign for Fair Gas Prices. We are here to call on all right-minded parties to recognise the economic benefit and maintenance of our sovereign capability if we treat our country fairly on gas and allow our manufacturers to compete internationally.
BIO:
Mark Vassella was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BlueScope in January 2018.
He joined the Company following BlueScope’s 2007 acquisition of Smorgon Steel Distribution where he was the Chief Executive. He was appointed Chief Executive Australian Distribution and Solutions before moving to the US as President, BlueScope Steel North America in 2008. He returned to Australia in 2011 to take up the role of Chief Executive BlueScope Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Vassella has been a BlueScope Director since January 2018. He is on the Executive Board of Directors at World Steel Association (worldsteel) and holds the office of Treasurer. He is a past Board member, President and Treasurer of the Family Life charitable organisation.
BlueScope is a global leader in metal coating and painting for building and construction, employing approximately 16,500 people at over 160 sites in 15 countries. In Australia, BlueScope is the nation’s largest steel manufacturer, employing around 7,100 people at approximately 100 sites. The operations are a mix of large manufacturing plants, rollforming facilities and distribution centres, producing and selling quality branded products primarily for the Australian building and construction industry.
