VIC: "Finish the job" at gas plant, Kennett urges

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-1999
VIC: "Finish the job" at gas plant, Kennett urges

MELBOURNE, April 22 AAP - Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett today appealed to workers at
Esso's Longford gas plant to press ahead with repairs at the site, warning that further delays
could put winter gas supplies at risk.

Australian Workers' Union members returned to work this morning after walking off the job
yesterday when a toilet was cleaned by the wrong staff.

Mr Kennett said repairs were now at a critical stage if full winter gas supplies were to be
guaranteed.

"I appeal to them to finish the job, to go out on a high; don't try and disrupt programming
in a way that will disrupt the entire state and the reputation of the state," he told radio
3AW.

More than a month had already been lost on industrial action since repair work began on the
plant damaged in last September's explosion, which killed two workers and shut down the
state's gas supply, he said.

"There's no margin for error: we've been fortunate in that we've had a warm autumn and I
hope that continues for another month, but no-one should be under any misapprehension.

"We have lost well over a month on industrial action, and as I say, we've now got our nose
pressed right against the window pane," Mr Kennett said.

AAP kmh/er/it

KEYWORD: GAS KENNETT

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