19/01/2017
Prime Minister flies into Portland
By BILL MELDRUM
PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be in Portland tomorrow to make an announcement on the future of the Portland Aluminium smelter.
It is expected the announcement will be positive news.
Premier Daniel Andrews will also be in Portland for the announcement.
Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan confirmed the visit today, saying Mr Turnbull was expected to fly into Portland tonight to make two announcements – one regarding the smelter and the other about something of world wide significance.
It is understood the second announcement is in relation to Federal Government support for World Heritage listing for the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape at Lake Condah.
Alcoa spokesman Brian Doy said Mr Turnbull was expected to visit the smelter but was unable to comment on anything else.
It is believed the crucial power pricing agreement for the smelter between AGL and Alcoa was close to being finalised today.
Mr Tehan said the Prime Minister had been involved in discussions regarding the smelter since the power outage on December 1 cut production at the smelter to less than 30 per cent capacity.
“It is fantastic to have the Prime Minister visit Portland – it puts the national focus on Portland,” he said.
“It will be the first time a Prime Minister has visited Portland since Malcolm Fraser.”
Mr Fraser was Prime Minister from 1975-1983 and was also the Member for Wannon from 1955-1983.
