“The great risk is climate change policy won’t lead to leading edge manufacturing jobs – if we’re going to be a country that makes things these sorts of opportunities shouldn’t be missed.”
Mr Ayres says Silex was overlooked because it could not compete with overseas competitors on cost.
The AMWU estimates the contract would have delivered 250 direct solar manufacturing jobs and that the Commonwealth needs to kick-start domestic providers, instead of looking to competitors like China and the United States.