Bailing Out Smelters While Ignoring AI | Sydney News

The government’s $2.5 billion lifeline to keep the Tomago aluminium smelter afloat—saving 1,000 jobs at $2.5 million each—isn’t just a massive bailout; it’s part of a pattern of taxpayer-funded rescues for struggling resource industries. Proponents argue aluminium is vital for green energy, and keeping these smelters alive could let Australia process its own bauxite instead of exporting raw materials. But critics question whether this short-term fix ignores long-term industry shifts, like how bailing out carmakers years ago might have hindered the EV transition. Meanwhile, the government’s laissez-faire approach to AI—with no strong regulation—raises alarms: will we be bailing out tech firms down the line? And when this support ends, these smelters may end up stranded, like the Pasha Bulker, abandoned on the beach. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/166d7dfa823dda92