The federal opposition says it will consult with Australian industry on how to ensure manufacturers hurt by the strong dollar are competing on a level playing field.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the review of Australia's industries would be co-chaired by opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella and opposition resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane.
The review will canvass views from sectors that are expanding and contracting under the influence of the mining boom, Mr Abbott told a Committee for Economic Development of Australia luncheon on Monday.
"The objective won't be to protect parts of the economy from legitimate competition but to try to ensure that Australian manufacturers face a genuinely level playing field when they compete for orders," he said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard met on Monday with industry representatives and unions following last week's announcement of 1000 jobs axed at steel giant BlueScope Steel.
Mr Abbott conceded it had never been easy to manufacture in Australia's small domestic market with high wages policies and vast distances to overseas markets.
But he said adjustment packages adopted under a carbon pricing scheme that moved workers out of productive jobs could easily become a form of "corporate welfare".
Ms Gillard should be talking to everyone involved in manufacturing - "not just union officials", Mr Abbott said.
"Any meeting to address the problems in manufacturing industry that doesn't address the carbon tax is nothing more than a desperate PR stunt."
Findings of the review are due to be released by December.
Share
