NSW Premier Chris Minns has pushed the burden of funding a massive bailout for the Tomago aluminium smelter back onto the Albanese government, saying the state will help where it can, but reminding the Commonwealth it is the one that committed to saving the majority Rio Tinto-owned facility.
The two governments are several months into a negotiation with Rio Tinto, the majority owner of the power-hungry Tomago smelter near Newcastle, over a complex multibillion-dollar deal that would ensure long-term affordable renewable energy supply for the facility.