The aluminium industry in Australia is increasingly finding itself in crisis after Norsk Hydro announced a round of 150 redundancies at their Kurri Kurri smelting plant. Additionally Tomago Aluminium have announced a major restructuring that will cost the plant at least 100 jobs.

The strong Australian dollar and low metal prices are both believed to have played a part in the recent round of lay-offs, with some analysts claiming that workers at the two plants need to be prepared as this may not be the end of the redundancies.

The announcements have not surprised the Australian Workers Union, with Newcastle branch secretary Richard Downie saying both organisations have been battling for several months.

The Kurri Kurri smelter will see its production cut by 120,000 tonnes a year as a result of the difficulties the industry is facing.