Alcoa's closure of its Point Henry aluminium smelter is an "industrial asteroid" that has hit Geelong, but Victoria's second-largest city can survive if the federal and state governments get behind it, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.
He said Labor was calling for a government support package worth at least $50 million to help Geelong's economy recover from the closure of Alcoa's Point Henry aluminium smelter.
The aluminium giant announced on Tuesday it would close its rolling mill in Geelong, along with a second rolling mill in Yennora, NSW, affecting almost 1000 workers.
"This is an industrial asteroid which has hit Geelong," Mr Shorten said from Point Henry on Tuesday.
"Geelong can recover but it will only recover if governments, state and federal, get behind Geelong and the workforce."
Corio MP Richard Marles said at least $50 million was needed for a strategy to transform the city and attract new manufacturing opportunities.
The state member for Bellarine, Lisa Neville, said the loss of the Alcoa workforce would hurt many small businesses in the region, and any support package should also help them.
She called for funding for TAFE courses, a job-matching service to link people's skills with available jobs, and counselling services for people who have lost their jobs.
