Bisalloy Steel defends '20-plus-year' relationship with Israeli companies
Bisalloy's AGM was held online due to planned protests in 2024 and 2025. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
In short:
Australian steel manufacturer Bisalloy has criticised protesters and defended its trade with Israeli companies at its annual general meeting.
Chief executive Rowan Melrose said the company had to bolster security due to multiple pickets at its site in Unanderra, Wollongong.
What's next?
Protesters have responded to the criticism.
The chairperson of an Australian armoured-steel manufacturer is defending the company's trade with Israel, following two years of protest action at its Wollongong plant.
Bisalloy Steel is Australia's only manufacturer of quenched and tempered steel plates suitable for armour applications.
The company has held contracts with Israeli companies such as Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Plasan Re'em in the past, but has not confirmed the current status of those partnerships to the ABC.
Its factory in the Wollongong suburb of Unanderra has been the target of pro-Palestine protest activity for the duration of the Gaza conflict, with at least nine picket lines blocking access to the site at various times since 2023.
Speaking at this week's annual general meeting, chairperson David Balkin defended the company's relationship with Israeli organisations.
"Our business continues to be targeted by protesters who want to stop Australian trade with Israel and who seek to end our 20-plus-year business relationship with several leading Israeli companies,"he said.
"We stress again that the plate we supply to these companies is sold under licence approved by the Australian government and that the quantities we supply are insufficient to make the heavy weapons we are accused of abetting."
Chief executive Rowan Melrose, who confirmed the company's dealings with Israeli companies made up a maximum of 1.9 per cent of its profit at last year's AGM, criticised the protesters in his statement to the meeting.
"At times, crowds have exceeded 100 people, been very disruptive to both Bisalloy and other local businesses, and they have caused property damage," he said.
"As a result, Bisalloy has upgraded physical security, added additional lighting and cameras and worked pro-actively with local police and our workforce to minimise the impact the protesters have on our operations."
In a statement, a Bisalloy spokesperson said some property damage had been referred to NSW Police.
Protesters respond
Protesters have blocked the entrance to Bisalloy Steel's Unanderra plant several times since 2023. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
The organisers of the picket line include local group Wollongong Friends of Palestine.
Member Jet Hunt said the group was not accusing Bisalloy of exporting ready-made weapons, but of simply contributing its steel to Israeli defence companies.
"We know Bisalloy provide armoured steel to multiple Israeli companies," she said.
"Bisalloy's insistence that this is done in compliance with Australian and international law really isn't much of a comfort."
Ms Hunt dismissed the company's concerns over shareholder safety and disruption to business due to the pickets.
"How outrageous that there's such concern for some minor traffic disruptions or whatever, considering the bloody business that Bisalloy is involved in," she said.
A UN report recently found that Israel has been committing genocide in Palestine, attracting condemnation from the Israeli government.
Bisalloy declined to provide an interview to the ABC.