Government News

Late last year, the only undergraduate course in Australia purposefully designed to recruit and ‘upskill’ industry experienced tradespeople and technology experts to become qualified Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Technologies secondary school teachers was closed. What makes the closure of this program of particular concern to industry is that it has come at a time when the nation is gearing itself – more so than any other time in Australia’s history – for an economic recovery that is dependent on young people wanting to pursue trade and technologies-based vocations. The Federal Government has promised a “pipeline of skilled workers to support sustained economic recovery”, but in order to generate this pipeline, we need appropriately skilled and qualified teachers with industry expertise and a deep knowledge of pedagogy (the science of teaching and learning) to nurture young people’s curiosity and their desire to enter trade and technical career paths after completing their…

The new strategy is part of a new trilateral pact between the US, the UK and Australia to collaborate on a range of security initiatives. Entitled AUKUS, the partnership will focus in particular on strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. Announcing the move, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “The first major initiative of AUKUS will be to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia. Over the next eighteen months we will work together to seek to determine the best way forward to achieve this.” Australia had planned to acquire 12 new Attack-class submarines to replace its existing Collins class fleet, under a $90bn program with French company Naval Group. Representing Australia’s largest-ever defence contract, the program would have seen the subs built in Adelaide. The break fee for scrapping the deal will cost a reported $400m. It is not clear what implications the move will have for Australian manufacturing – in particular those companies that had been engaged in the scrapped program’s supply…

Funding between $20m and $200m is available for large-scale projects, cover up to 33% of eligible project expenditure. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the Collaboration Stream will see the Government strategically invest in projects that help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs, with investment targeted at supporting projects within the National Manufacturing Priorities. “Australians know that strong, successful manufacturing businesses make for a stronger country,” Minister Porter said. “We want to co-invest in transformative, industry-led proposals that will spur private sector investment, encouraging our manufacturers to draw on each other’s strengths and harness our world class research. “The Collaboration Stream is the largest component of our Modern Manufacturing Strategy, and focuses on long-term transformation in the National Manufacturing Priority areas to support job creation and investment in Australian manufacturing.” The $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy supports Australian manufacturers to scale up, build resilience, become more competitive and create jobs. The Strategy will harness Australian manufacturing capability…

The Government is investing $1.5bn into the Modern Manufacturing Strategy. Manufacturers can apply for a grant to help strengthen their local supply chain, handle mass production, upskill employees, scale up and improve competitiveness. According to Saeid Nikdel, quality management expert at SAI Global, COVID-19 restrictions across the world have impeded availability of goods due to parts and components held up in international supply chains. The problem has highlighted the Australian manufacturing sector’s dependence on overseas markets for the supply of machinery, tools, parts and product components. Most of the machinery brought into Australia comes from the US and Europe, while product components and parts mostly come from China. In the last 12 months, local manufacturers, assemblers and distributors have faced delays almost twice as long as in 2019. “These have impacted their ability to produce local goods” says Nikdel. “Manufacturers have also struggled to scale up operations to meet the increase in demand. It has been a wake-up call for…

Businesses with projects in the space sector are the first to be able to apply for grants to help them commercialise ideas or processes, or integrate into global supply chains. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the MMI will build on the billions of dollars in investment to get the economic conditions right – and create meaningful, long-term change for Australian manufacturing. “This matched government funding is designed to support our manufacturers to become competitive, resilient and scale-up to take on the world, which will in turn create jobs for Australians – both now and for generations to come,” said Andrews. “Funding from the MMI will help boost investment in the growth of the manufacturing sector, enhance Australia’s reputation, open up new markets, create new skilled jobs and increase exports.” To guide the types of projects the Government will back in space manufacturing under the MMI, an industry-led road map has also been released. “This road map sets out our vision for manufacturing investment in the…

Palaszczuk said Rheinmetall has the full support of the Queensland Government in landing the Phase 3 contract that will deliver 450 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Australian Army. “Rheinmetall estimates the Phase 3 project could create an additional 500 jobs in addition to the 450 highly skilled positions being brought to Queensland through their Phase 2 win,” said the Premier. “Rheinmetall’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) here in Redbank is the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facility in Australia, if not the world, and it would definitely be a compelling consideration in the Commonwealth’s LAND 400 Phase 3 tender evaluation.” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said when the Commonwealth selects its preferred tenderer, Rheinmetall’s MILVEHCOE will be fully operational, fully staffed and will have the necessary supply chains in place delivering on its contracts. “Rheinmetall’s Lynx IFV is specifically developed to meet the Army’s requirements and the Hungarian Government…

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula on 12 January signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanwha, a major South Korean global company, to formalise a long-term partnership that will support the establishment of Hanwha’s defence manufacturing operations in Victoria. Pakula was at Laverton North to see Hanwha’s LAND 400 Phase 3 vehicle, after the Commonwealth selected Hanwha as one of two final tenderers, along with Rheinmetall in Queensland. “Victoria is the home of Australian manufacturing and we are pleased to be working with Hanwha to maximise opportunities for more high-value jobs to be created in Geelong,” said Pakula. “The range of companies working in defence industries is staggering, and we’re backing them to grow further.” A PWC report commissioned by Hanwha estimated that the LAND 400 Phase 3 manufacturing effort would generate $5.7bn in total economic impacts in Victoria. Hanwha is also looking to build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured resupply vehicles in Geelong, and carry out maintenance and repairs during their…

The team, led by the Linköping University in Sweden, travelled to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights Campus prior to commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic to study how the orientation of the part impacts the additive manufacturing (AM) process. Using ANSTO’s Kowari strain scanner, a scientific, non-destructive technique known as neutron diffraction was used to measure and characterise residual stresses within nickel-based superalloy samples that were produced by selective laser melting (SLM) AM method. Superalloys are an important group of high-temperature metals and are often used in the hottest sections of jet and rocket engines, where temperatures can reach 1,200 to 1400 degrees Celsius. The technique, which allows you to “see inside” a material without damaging it, is used at ANSTO to study materials commonly used in industry. It can reveal information about the structural integrity of pipes, rail and bridge sections, along with many other metal components. The research concluded that the particular direction in…

AVALON 2021 has been placed on the Schedule of Approved Business Events for the new Australian Government Business Events Grants Program. Organisations planning to exhibit may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Government to cover up to 50% of the costs of participation at AVALON 2021. The AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition is one of the Indo-Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious events and the most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence exposition in the Southern Hemisphere. Set to take place from 23-28 November at Avalon Airport in Geelong, Victoria, AVALON 2021 will be a cornerstone event in a year marking the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The eligible costs, towards which exhibitors may be able to apply for a grant, include: Space hire. Design and manufacture. Travel or accommodation. The full list of eligible expenditure is detailed in the grant opportunity documentation issued by the Australian Government. The Business Events Grants program will open at midday…

The Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) introduced the online Register in March, so local manufacturers and suppliers of crucial products such as personal protective equipment (PPE) could support the national response to the pandemic. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said having stepped up to support domestic production – manufacturers can now take on new markets and sell their products overseas. “By opening the Register to international buyers, Australian companies will be able to utilise the skills and supplies they have developed and keep people in jobs, while helping in the fight against COVID-19 overseas,” Andrews said. “The Register has been very helpful in matching manufacturers and suppliers of COVID-19 related products to areas of demand. “It has enabled businesses, hospitals, GPs and community groups to find suppliers of PPE, including masks and gowns, and hand sanitiser. The Register has fostered impressive collaboration between companies and accelerated the development of such products as ventilators and relief beds.” AMGC Managing Director Jens Goennemann…

Businesses will be able to apply for grants of between $100,000 and $1m to invest in new technology to increase their productivity, create new jobs and drive economic growth. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the MMF Round Two was a key element of the Government’s $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy. “The Morrison Government knows that manufacturing is central to our nation’s economic future and creating jobs for the recovery from COVID-19 and for future generations,” Minister Andrews said. “In these uncertain times, we’re giving manufacturing businesses the confidence and certainty they need to invest in themselves to deliver new and innovative products and services. We want to deliver more products for Australians, and beyond that, we want to open up more opportunities for manufacturers to take on the world with their top-quality products. “Round One of the MMF is already helping manufacturers to become more competitive and productive, with many already creating new jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The big change between Round One and Round Two is that this time we…

Under the program, targeted advice and guidance is available to help small businesses navigate the economic challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 market changes. Through a panel of experienced Business Mentors, businesses can get help in the specific areas of business planning, strategy development and deployment, market transformation and supply chain diversification. Importantly, having been in lockdown for some months, this business recovery program is funded by the Victorian government and is available at no cost to the participating business. BizAdviser, an association of consulting professionals, is an approved Business Mentor provider under the program. BizAdviser Principal Mal Clark said: “With around 90 years combined executive management experience in private industry and over 30 years collective experience supporting SMEs, our BizAdviser mentors have helped many businesses to grow and prosper across a broad spectrum of industries”. The program’s aim is to mitigate business risks and financial exposure. Where possible it will connect to other government support and local professional services. Through the program, eligible business owners can receive up to…