LOSS OF 250 JOBS AT KEMERTON LITHIUM REFINERY A BLOW TO THE SOUTH WEST

12 February 2006

STARTS

The recent announcement by Albermarle to close the Kemerton Lithium Plant is a devastating blow for local workers, families and industry in the South West.

Following the company’s decision in 2024 to halt expansion plans for 2 additional trains, this announcement comes as a disappointing shock to the region.

The company projection of over 250 local redundancies cannot be taken lightly. Each number represents a person, family or household that will lose a job and the security that provides amongst the ever-rising costs of living crisis.

Mr Small said the announcement is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Australians in industry today.

“Today’s devastating announcement reflects the reality that when the cost of doing business in Australia keeps going up, eventually something breaks.”

“Investment capital is mobile and today, we’re seeing less and less opportunity for anything to be made in Australia, despite the Prime Minister’s slogans.”

Albermarle stated the decision came as a result of two and a half years of efforts to reduce operating costs, with current lithium price improvements still insufficient to offset high Australian input costs.

In placing the emphasis on the families affected, Mr Small noted the other commentary around this announcement and the undeniable role of the rising cost of energy.

Mr Small said the announcement exposes the failures of the Albanese-Labor Government to support critical industry as the cost of production rises daily.

“Mr Albanese’s relentless pursuit of Net Zero, which has made energy more and more expensive by the day, leaves our best local industries crippled at best and shut down at worst. When you jack up energy prices, when you drown business in red tape, locals pay with their jobs.”

“Cheap energy used to be an advantage for our businesses, and today we face higher prices than the countries we export cheap energy to such as Japan.”

“Every time Mr Albanese talks about the energy transition, prices go up. This isn’t a plan, it’s punishment.”

These impact of this announcement is only furthered by surging inflation caused by the Labor Government’s out of control spending, which the RBA stated directly affected the resent interest rate rise.

“Albermarle have committed to me that they will be supporting impacted employees in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”

 “My Electorate Office team and I will do whatever we can to assist locals with accessing government services and supports in transitioning to new opportunities.”

 

ENDS.

12/02/2026