Securing robust supply chains with strong local content
ASI fights for a fair go
In a significant step forward for the Australian steel industry, the Productivity Commission is conducting an inquiry into whether safeguard measures are warranted against imports of certain fabricated structural steel products due to recent surges in imports, causing injury to the Australian fabricated steel industry. This is a direct response to the application made by the ASI on behalf of members, as well as more than 200 representations to politicians that many members have made.
The Productivity Commission process is a critical opportunity to put the damaging impact of the import surge squarely before government and to reinforce what is at stake: local jobs, investment, skills, sovereign capability and the long-term strength of Australia’s steel supply chain. ASI will continue to support members to engage with the inquiry so that the commission hears directly from the businesses and people affected.
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
A key focus of our advocacy work in recent months has been ensuring that local industry is well positioned to capture the opportunities presented by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland has a capable, competitive and highly experienced structural steel supply chain, and ASI has been working to make sure that capability is clearly understood by government, major contractors and project decision-makers. To support this, we have held several meetings with the Queensland Government and the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) around the state’s project pipeline, local steel supply chain capability and the role Queensland fabricators can play in delivering upcoming infrastructure.
ASI has been helping members improve their readiness to engage directly with Brisbane 2032 opportunities. In Queensland, we recently held an Industry Capability Network workshop for steel fabricator members designed to help businesses strengthen their online presence, better position themselves for procurement opportunities, and improve the quality of their submissions for packages linked to the Games. We also hosted a Queensland steel fabricator member roundtable.
More broadly, ASI continues to advocate for procurement settings that properly recognise value for money, whole-of-life performance and quality—not simply lowest upfront cost. This has been reinforced through our submission to the Queensland Productivity Commission, where we highlighted the role the National Structural Steelwork Compliance Scheme can play in simplifying procurement while improving confidence in quality, compliance and project outcomes.
The message is clear: Queensland’s steel industry has the capacity, capability and commitment to help deliver Brisbane 2032. Our role is to keep making that case—clearly, consistently and constructively—so that the benefits of this once-in-a-generation investment are captured here in Australia.
Wind and transmission towers
In a recent submission to the Federal Government’s Domestic manufacturing of wind and transmission infrastructure consultation, the ASI called for the structural steel for the projects to be both fabricated and milled locally.
Australian steel distributors have extensive regional branch networks and established supply chains that already service all parts of the country. If there is increased demand through this existing supply chain, it can be scaled up relatively quickly, and without a cost inflation impact for existing local businesses. The ASI said the local content target needs to be set at a sufficiently high percentage such that it matches or exceeds the capacity increment associated with a new greenfield manufacturing facility.
For example, if the annual demand for wind towers is estimated at 200 towers, the local content target for a greenfield wind tower facility with annual capacity of 100 towers would need to be at least 50% in order to provide surety that a new facility will be fully loaded. Finally, the local content policy framework needs to be designed such that the targets for the steel component are not diluted by other criteria, for example value-for-money metrics, and proven capability.
In the absence of any change to policy settings, the majority of wind tower and transmission tower steel infrastructure required in Australia will continue to be imported. This would mean the loss of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for large scale regional investment in skilled jobs and sophisticated manufacturing capability.
2026 Australian Steel Excellence Awards
Entries are now open for the 2026 Australian Steel Excellence Awards. The awards highlight the remarkable quality and innovation throughout the entire steel supply chain, showcasing the elegance and adaptability of Australian steel in design and construction. These awards provide an outstanding opportunity to showcase your collaborations and achievements, recognise high standards, and promote excellence in the use of Australian steel in design. They celebrate the excellence of teams and individuals across the entire steel supply chain, including manufacturers, engineers, designers, builders, architects, fabricators, distributors and galvanizers. Enter your submissions by 26 May 2026 so that they can be reviewed prior to the 2 June closing date.
2026 Australian Steel Convention
Planning for the 2026 Australian Steel Convention from 14 to 16 September at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide is well underway. The convention will bring together leaders from across the steel value chain at a pivotal time for Australia’s manufacturing and infrastructure future. Under the theme Capability, strength and resilience in a changing world, the program will explore how the industry can strengthen domestic fabrication and manufacturing, maintain competitiveness, and respond with confidence to economic, technological and geopolitical change. If you haven’t already, I suggest you register via steel.org.au now.
Mark Cain
Chief executive, ASI
