No more ‘sleepwalking’ on manufacturing
Marion Rae |
Australia must stop losing 21st-century jobs and opportunities to rival economies.
That’s the rallying call from Treasurer Jim Chalmers in the 2022/23 federal budget handed down on Tuesday.
A $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund will be established to help finance new industries, create sustainable and well-paid jobs and target growth in Australia’s regional centres.
“No more sleepwalking while other advanced economies seize new opportunities,” Dr Chamlers told parliament in his first speech as treasurer.
“No more surrendering industries and jobs overseas.”
Dr Chalmers wants Australia to be a country that makes things again – in clean energy, medical manufacturing, agriculture – and adds value to critical minerals dug up from vast reserves.
As well, $50.5 million will go to a new Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, drawing on experts from Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to work with researchers and industry.
An additional $50.1 million over three years for critical minerals exploration will build on the $49.7 million recently committed to six key projects across Australia last month.
Critical minerals, including rare earths, are in demand worldwide as crucial ingredients for electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels.
“Without Australia’s resources, the world will not reach net zero,” Resources Minister Madeleine King said.
“The programs will help to establish Australia as a renewable and critical minerals superpower.”
Some $14.2 million has been earmarked for a National Rail Manufacturing Plan to support the rail industry and skilled manufacturing jobs to build trains in Australia.
A new Office of National Rail Industry Coordination will work with state and territory governments and the rail industry and a new Rail Supplier Advocate will be appointed to work with manufacturers.
Recognising Australia’s multi-sector skills gap starts at school age, there’s $10 million to extend Questacon’s national science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities through its Science Circus and Engineering is Elementary programs.
There is $4.8 million over four years to attract and retain Australia’s quantum tech talent, including support for 20 PhDs and to enable universities to kick-start national collaboration on quantum research and education.
The budget also widens the pipeline of talent available in science and technology by providing $5.8 million for the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship program.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said there would be an independent review into government programs to ensure they support greater diversity.
BUDGET WINNERS IN REGIONAL MANUFACTURING:
* $50 million to upgrade the Nyrstar Hobart zinc smelter in Tasmania
* $17.2 million to establish a pilot Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub on NSW Central Coast
* $12.6 million to support Cytiva’s Springfield BioPark project in Ipswich, Queensland
* $11.1 million to support upgrades to Ingham’s Sorell poultry facility in Tasmania
* $10.1 million to support Flinders University’s Factory of the Future in South Australia
* $6.1 million to upgrade the Waverley Wool Mill in Launceston, Tasmania
* $2.1 million for a feasibility study to replace the coal-fired boiler at the Norske Skog Boyer mill in Tasmania
* $2.1 million towards an expansion of the Costa Group berry distribution centre in Tasmania
AAP
