Whyalla Steelworks Closure: Australia Faces Years Without Major Steel Production Source

Australia's steel industry faces an uncertain future after the closure of the Whyalla Steelworks' blast furnace, with unions predicting it could be up to five years before the country has a domestic source of structural and rail steel again.

About 500 employees have been made redundant at the Whyalla Steelworks, with 250 expected to take voluntary packages and 100 contractors also losing their jobs. The plant's 60-year-old blast furnace was closed after attempts to repair it failed.

Uncertainty for the future of steel production