Together with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, Senator Scott Ryan toured Modern Baking Company in Broadmeadows on Wednesday morning, as employees baked Anzac biscuits in time for Anzac Day next week.
Senator Scott Ryan, the patron senator for Calwell, held discussions with the management of Modern Baking Company, Australia’s fourth largest biscuit baker. He also thanked the consortium behind Modern Baking Company for saving the jobs of 180 local employees after the company, formerly known as UNIBIC, went into administration in February this year.
“Unemployment in this part of Melbourne is more than double the national average. Modern Baking Company has done a fantastic job in making sure they provide ongoing, regular work to this community,” Senator Scott Ryan, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition, told gathered media.
“But in 10 weeks time, the carbon tax is just going to make business a lot more difficult and the cost of producing these fantastic biscuits will get higher and higher. Imported biscuits are not going to face the carbon tax.”
“Every single one of these workers is not just going to have it more difficult at work, they are going to face increased costs at home as well because of the carbon tax.”
According to the latest data, unemployment in Broadmeadows is at 12.1 per cent, more than double the national average.
“The Gillard Government is making it harder for business to thrive and making business more likely to lay-off rather than hire workers,” Senator Ryan said. “A Coalition government under Tony Abbott would rescind the damaging carbon tax, improve the budget bottom line and end wasteful spending.”
Modern Baking Company took over UNIBIC in March this year after the company went into administration. It operates out of a state-of-the-art plant in Broadmeadows producing a range of biscuits and baked goods.