The South Australian Premier has held crisis talks in Whyalla over the struggling steelworks, as concerns grow over GFG Alliance’s mounting debts. The company owes tens of millions to creditors and in royalties but insists new financing is on the way to settle its obligations.
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00:00Kate Heads Café gets paid for its service, but she says it's a challenging time in Wyala
00:07as others wait for the steelworks to pay up.
00:10It's such a flow on effect, we're starting to feel the pinch now.
00:14The Premier on a whistle stop visit to meet creditors and gauge the temperature, which
00:18has been rising over the steelworks.
00:20Just to show solidarity with the community that we're here, we're engaged and we're
00:25committed.
00:26It shows that he wants to get something sorted out.
00:28They keep saying they want to keep the steelworks, which of course is what Wyala wants too.
00:33The state's opposition says there's a double standard, after it was revealed steelworks
00:37owner GFG Alliance has $15 million in unpaid water bills, on top of other debts and tens
00:43of millions in royalties.
00:45At the moment under Labor it seems like it's one rule for billionaires and one rule for
00:50everybody else.
00:51And the concern has spread to Canberra.
00:54Steel making is key to the nation's security and prosperity and the Albanese Labor government
01:00will always stand up for our steel making workforce.
01:03As a coalition we'd be very keen to work closely with the South Australian government to do
01:08whatever we can to make sure that we can preserve jobs and that industry in South Australia.
01:14Back in Wyala, the ongoing challenges are ever present.
01:18The Premier spent much of the day here at council chambers, meeting with stakeholders.
01:22Despite the visit being well received in the town, some locals remain concerned.
01:27Community leaders however are hopeful a solution is around the corner.
01:30We've always known the situation is not a quick fix, it is very complicated.
01:35I am definitely reassured that the state government is here for the long haul.
01:40GFG Alliance Chairman Sanjeev Gupta has reiterated the company's commitment to Wyala and says
01:45the company is vigorously finalising new financing.
01:49He says although it's taken a bit longer than anticipated, I remain confident of its delivery.