Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, Tomago Aluminium, has secured a A$2.5 billion taxpayer-funded support package. The assistance is intended to protect the plant’s future and highlights the economic and political pressure surrounding energy-intensive manufacturing in Australia.

The funding involves the federal Albanese government and the New South Wales Minns government. Tomago is a major industrial employer and aluminium producer, so its viability has implications for jobs, regional industry and the country’s broader manufacturing capacity.