- Engaged with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to gain better visibility of government-funded renewable energy projects and gain an understanding of the Victorian Energy Policy and Investment Overview.
- Participated in a Steel Industry Forum organised by the Office of the Local Jobs First Commissioner on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) Project which highlighted 92% local content requirements and identified steel tonnage requirements for the initial SRL East Main Works package.
- After disappointingly discovering that 11,000 tonnes of fabricated steel bridge girders were being sourced from overseas by the main contractor Laing O’Rourke for the Bullen flyover, persistently raised concerns initially from April 2024 to September 2024, and then at a steel industry forum on the project hosted by Laing O’Rourke in October 2024, and again in November 2024 at a Steel Industry Roundtable with the Victoria Government.
- Coordinated a steel industry roundtable with the Victorian Minister for Jobs and Industry, eight ASI Victorian fabricators, and steel producing mill representatives from BlueScope and InfraBuild/Liberty GFG.
- In January 2025, as recommended by the Local Jobs First Commissioner, re-engaged Laing O’Rourke, who advised ASI that they will work to procure all remaining steel work packages for the Eastern Freeway Upgrade from local fabricators.
- Distributed to ASI Victoria fabricators a formal ASI letter regarding WorkSafe Victoria’s guidelines on imported structural steelwork so that it can be used by local ASI fabricators as an attachment with their tender bid for projects to the builders/main contractors and clients when competing against imported fabricated steelwork.
- Attended the 2024 Monash University Civil Engineering Annual Awards and presented the Steel Excellence Awards and eLearning voucher to the winner of the ASI Undergraduate Award.
Emergency government action sought as low-priced steel imports surge
The ASI has lodged a Safeguard application with the Federal Government requesting it apply temporary emergency provisions to protect the industry.
