In short:
Dozens of jobs could be lost at one of Australia's largest paper mills.
uncertain
Dozens → lose → mills
New owner Arbex is proposing what it is calling a "transformation project" at the 66-year-old Millicent mill.
asserted
it → propose → mill
The multinational company would not comment on potential job losses but said it remained committed to its employees and the local community.
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it → comment → employees
The national timber union wants governments to do more to strengthen local manufacturing amid concerns of job cuts at one of the country's largest tissue plants.
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governments → want → plants
The Millicent tissue mill has been operating in the regional South Australian town since 1960, employing hundreds and making millions of toilet rolls each year for the Australian market.
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mill → operate → market
The uncertainty for the local site, formerly owned by Kimberly-Clark Australia, followed a recent takeover by international hygiene company Arbex.
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uncertainty → own → Arbex
While the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union declined to speculate on how many jobs could be axed, it confirmed it was in discussion with management about the "reported changes and their implications for workers".
uncertain
it → decline → workers
District secretary Denise Campbell-Burns said the union would advocate strongly for the workers, their families and the broader Millicent community, which has a population of around 4,700.
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which → say → 4,700
In a statement, Arbex said it was in talks about a "proposed transformation program" at the site.
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it → say → site
"Millicent remains a critical part of Arbex's Australian manufacturing network,"a spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → remain → ?
Arbex declined to comment on the impact on jobs given consultation was ongoing.
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consultation → decline → jobs
Over the six decades it has been operating, thousands of locals have worked at the Millicent mill.
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thousands → operate → mill
In the 1980s about 1,000 people worked at the plant, though that has declined to about 400 employees currently.
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that → work → employees
The site was previously owned and operated by Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA), but earlier this year it was taken over by Arbex — a joint venture between Brazilian pulp producer Suzano and Kimberly-Clark.
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it → own → Suzano
"Employees within our community and the region have held careers here from when they left school to when they've retired," Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll said.
"Some of these employees have been here for 50 years.
"
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Some → hold → years
For every one employee, it's supported three others in our community, as well as local contractors."
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it → support → community
Mr Noll said KCA had been proactive in the community, and it had been "business as usual" since the move to Arbex.
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it → say → Arbex
He said he hoped to discuss any changes at the mill with management as the process continued.
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process → say → management
The mayor's wife, Shari Noll, retired from the mill five years ago after a 30-year career.
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wife → retire → career
She said the name change had caused some confusion in the community.
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change → say → community
"When the name changed, there were a few reactions of, 'Who is this? What does that mean?'" she said.
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she → change → What
"It always plays in your mind that with change, does that mean there's going to be a restructure of some sort?"
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that → play → sort
Calls for transparency and support
The region's federal and state politicians have called for clear answers on how many jobs will be cut as part of the changes.
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jobs → call → changes
Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin said he had been advised of "workforce reductions", but the advice was "vague and non-committal".
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advice → say → reductions
"Local reports and rumours suggest the number of jobs at risk could be as high as 100, around a quarter of the workforce," he said.
uncertain
he → suggest → workforce
"If that figure is anywhere near accurate, senior management needs to come clean with the local community about the scale of these proposed job losses and what they mean for the long-term future of the mill.
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they → need → mill
"These are local families with mortgages and bills to pay."
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These → pay → mortgages
State MacKillop MP Jason Virgo said he had written to the state and federal governments calling for outplacement and worker transition programs for impacted workers.
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he → say → workers
He said he also wanted reports of dumping of imported tissue products to be investigated.
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reports → say → products
"We cannot stand by and watch good local jobs disappear without a coordinated plan to support workers and protect the future of the community," he said.
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he → stand → community
Ms Campbell-Burns said reported job losses created questions about the long-term viability of manufacturing jobs.
"Products such as toilet paper, tissues, medical disposables and other personal hygiene products are not luxury items — they are critical everyday necessities," she said.
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she → say → paper
"The COVID period demonstrated how vulnerable supply chains can become when a nation loses domestic manufacturing capacity.
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nation → demonstrate → capacity
"Australia cannot afford to continue allowing the erosion of the skills, infrastructure and production capability required to make essential products locally."
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Australia → afford → products
The Aporia