YIR 2024-2025

ASI led the steel industry’s drive to achieve sustainable steel over the last 12 months. Key sustainability initiatives undertaken by the ASI in 2024-2025 included: Following several submissions to the Federal Senate Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling, ASI called for regulatory controls on the export of unprocessed steel scrap. The ASI position was adopted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in its submission to the Federal Government green metals consultation process. ASI co-signed a coordinated statement with Ai Group to the Federal Government on the need for climate and energy policy certainty. ASI chief executive Mark Cain appointed to the Federal Government’s Green Metals Advisory Panel, a seven-member body providing strategic advice to government on opportunities for a sustainable green metals industry. The panel is a commitment under the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda to support investment in green metals and help the industry decarbonise...

Imported fabricated steel  2024-2025 saw a major surge in imported fabricated steelwork into Australia. ASI campaigned to minimise the damaging impact on local fabricators by:  Exploring trade measures in consultation with the then Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, the Anti-Dumping Commissioner, and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Surveying the local industry to accurately identify those negatively impacted by the surge, essential if trade measures are to proceed. The 2024 survey found a 50% drop in local fabricator business directly linked to very low-priced imports.  Interrogating ABS statistics and other references to gather background data on the capacity, employment numbers, and economic contribution of the Australian steel fabrication sector to the economy, which is also essential to support trade action.  Running a media campaign to highlight the damaging impact on local fabricators of the flood of cheap imports. Local content  A major ASI...

Membership support over the past 12 months enabled the ASI to achieve the following significant advances for the Australian steel industry. Lobbied government in support of trade measures to protect local fabricators from a surge in cheap imported fabricated steel. The ASI’s submission (which is backed by a survey of members and supporting ABS figures) is being reviewed by the Federal Government’s Department of Industry Science and Resources, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has resulted in ongoing consultation. A supporting media campaign highlighted the damaging impact of the surge on local fabricators. For details, see: https://www.steel.org.au/what-we-do/advocacy/asi-campaign-on-imported-fabricated-steelwork/. Prepared a pre-feasibility plan for the development of a traceability scheme for monitoring the quality, sustainability and risk-minimised outcomes of steel through its life cycle. For details, see: https://www.steel.org.au/news-and-events/news/asi-releases-traceability-tech-note-tn017/. Worked...