He said if the prime minister announced an expected $42 million package to keep open Alcoa’s Point Henry aluminium plant in Victoria, it would be fair for the Hunter-based smelters to be offered the same package.

“[Federal Industry Minister] Greg Combet is citing the same cost pressures for the Point Henry smelter as he did for the Kurri Kurri and Tomago smelters, agreeing that the aluminium industry is under significant pressure due to the high value of the Australian dollar and low aluminium prices,” Hartcher said.

“Why hasn’t the same offer been made to Kurri Kurri and Tomago?

“Why are jobs located in the Hunter of lesser value than those in Geelong?

“Following Norsk Hydro’s announcement that it would be closing its Kurri Kurri smelter, Mr Combet said his government would continue working to ensure the best outcome for workers at Kurri Kurri and their families.”

The best outcome would be keeping the smelter operational and the workers’ jobs intact, Hartcher said.

“Mr Combet didn’t even lift a finger to save the jobs of the Kurri Kurri or Tomago employees within his own and neighbouring federal Labor electorates and yet he is scrambling to secure the jobs of those in the Victorian electorate of Corangamite – Labor’s most marginal seat,” he said.

“The NSW government is imploring the federal government to come back to the table with an offer that will secure the future of the Kurri Kurri smelter and its 334 employees and the 100 Tomago employees, their families and local businesses associated with the smelters in the Hunter.”