Government News

As organisers of Australian Manufacturing Week, 6-9 May, AMTIL proudly announces a collaboration among government entities and leading manufacturers to promote Australian manufacturing, particularly in the Advanced Manufacturing and Precision Technology sectors. REGISTER NOW! The Victorian Government is leading the charge, supporting AMW2025 as a Major Sponsor of the Future Solutions Speaker Program which will take place from 6 to 8 May at AMW2025. The Queensland Government is sponsoring the AMW VIP Breakfast, and the NSW Government is sponsoring the Additive Manufacturing Zone. Three C Financial is sponsoring the Machine Tool Zone, Smenco will sponsor the Robotics and Automation Solutions, and PFM Works is sponsoring the Manufacturing Solutions Zone. Kraftech is the lanyard sponsor, OKUMA Australia is sponsoring the showbags and this newsletter is sponsored by the Australian Made Campaign. Kraftech and the Australian Made Campaign returning as sponsors only reiterates their trust and belief in what AMTIL and the AMW trade show is achieving for Australian Manufacturing. AMTIL is very thankful for this support, as it would be near impossible to bring this endeavour to its successful fruition without…

Western Australian businesses seeking to participate in the local wind energy manufacturing supply chain can apply for co-investment, which can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs, under the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program. The funds will be made available through a co-investment and advice program co-created by the WA Government and AMGC, with $8m allocated by the WA Government under the initiative to enhance local businesses' capacity and capability in wind energy, manufacturing and servicing supply chains. Priority areas include manufacturing wind tower foundations, anchor cages, nacelle components and assembly, transmission poles, specialised trailers (transport), capacity building for replacement parts and servicing and refurbishing centres. “The Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program is a testament to our commitment to creating a sustainable future for Western Australia,” said WA Science Minister Stephen Dawson. “Supporting local businesses to engage in the wind energy supply chains positions the state to reap the benefits of the energy transition while supporting our economic diversification. “Whether it’s helping new businesses to upgrade their accreditations or assisting companies to pivot or scale…

US President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on all steel imports on Sunday as he flew to New Orleans on Air Force One. As an afterthought, when asked about aluminium, he responded, “aluminium, too.” While there are ways to interpret the differences between what he is ‘poised to announce’ and what he says, any move that goes ahead would be bad for Australia. If the move goes ahead, it will likely harm Australia. According to the UN's COMTRADE database, the US imported about $638m of Australian steel and $439m of aluminium last year. Trump also reaffirmed that he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” —”probably Tuesday or Wednesday”—meaning the US will impose import duties on products when another country levies duties on American goods. The Australian stock market opened with a slump after the announcement. President Trump said he would formally announce the fresh trade war slug on Monday and that the taxes would hit “everybody,” suggesting Australia will not be exempt from the new trade war slug. "A tariff on Australian goods, despite us having a long-standing free trade agreement with…

Quantum researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have demonstrated that quantum computing can significantly improve the way we solve complex problems involving large datasets. They have highlighted the potential of using quantum in areas such as real-time traffic management, agricultural monitoring, healthcare, and energy optimisation. By leveraging quantum computing's unique properties, like superposition and entanglement, researchers compressed and analysed a large dataset with speed, accuracy, and efficiency that traditional computers cannot match. Unlike regular binary computer bits that are either ‘on’ or ‘off,’ quantum bits (qubits) can exist in multiple states at once, allowing quantum computers to process many possibilities simultaneously. Dr Muhammad Usman, a CSIRO quantum scientist and the senior author of the study, said the research team demonstrated that quantum machine learning can simplify large sets of data without sacrificing important details. “With the global volume of data doubling every few years, quantum computing’s ability to handle this complexity will become increasingly valuable,” Dr Usman said. “Our work focused on groundwater monitoring as a case study, but quantum machine learning has broad applications in any field requiring fast, detailed…

South Australia-based Fleet Space has licensed, manufactured, and activated its new ExoSphere product to enhance its technology for detecting underground minerals from space. This will enable mining companies to accelerate the search for minerals and cut costs by reducing their reliance on invasive land surveying. The SpaceX Transporter 12 rideshare mission carried 130 other payloads in a massive lift in mid-January. The Fleet Space product has earned recognition as one of Australia’s fastest-growing enterprises, with clients such as Rio Tinto and Core Lithium, conducting over 250 successful surveys across five continents. "With ExoSphere, we can quickly make real-time decisions, getting into positions where we can define drilling targets quicker,” said Andrew Bennett, Exploration Manager at Core Lithium. “When you can accelerate exploration programs, you are accelerating your discovery, which is a game changer for exploration.” “These new technologies integrating artificial intelligence and big data are essential to tackle the dual challenges of space exploration and climate change,” Fleet Space Technologies founder Flavia Tata Nardini is quoted as saying. “By making these new capabilities rapidly deployable in a way…

The Australian Aluminium Council has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a production credit for the aluminium smelting sector as part of its Future Made in Australia plan. This marks a globally significant step towards securing the future of Australia’s aluminium industry and strengthening Australia’s role as a leader in the energy transition. “Until now, we have seen many other countries take decisive action to support their domestic manufacturing industries while Australia has been less proactive in comparison,” the Council’s CEO, Marghanita Johnson, said. “Competitive energy is the critical foundation that enables Australian businesses to compete internationally. [This] announcement is an important step in support of the industry’s transition to the competitive, reliable, lower-carbon energy needed for the aluminium industry to secure a sustainable future.” The Climate Council, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Workers Union also endorsed the move. AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said the announcement showed the government understood the magnitude of the industry’s potential. “Abundant renewable energy, access to raw materials, and skilled workers – Australia has every advantage necessary to…

Enforcing drug and alcohol policies in the manufacturing industry is a crucial task that requires a careful balance between safety and fairness. In environments where machinery operates and safety is paramount, stringent drug testing policies are common. Recent rulings have shown that enforcing these policies must consider the nuances of employee conduct outside work hours. Key Case: Sydney Trains v Goodsell [2024] FWCFB 401 (‘Goodsell’) A landmark case this year, the Goodsell case, provides valuable insights. In this case, an employee with a spotless 26-year record tested positive for cocaine during a random drug test. He was dismissed for breaching the company's "drug-free" policy, which mandated that employees must not use drugs at any time. While the Fair Work Commission (FWC) acknowledged that the company had a valid reason for dismissal, it also deemed the action unfair due to the employee's long service and otherwise clean history. Important Takeaway: Positive drug test vs. fair dismissal A positive drug test can justify dismissal, but it does not automatically ensure it is…

The Albanese Government has taken another step towards rapidly establishing domestic manufacturing of missiles and munitions at scale under a plan that bolsters Australia’s defence capabilities while creating hundreds of jobs. The government has announced that Thales has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build a new domestic forging capability for 155mm M795 artillery ammunition. Australia, the United States, and other international partners use the 155mm M795 artillery ammunition for the M777A2 Light Towed Howitzer, which is critical for close-fire capability. Defence will work with Thales, the preferred company, to build, establish, and commission the forge at the Commonwealth-owned Benalla Munitions Facility. This project is expected to support at least 550 jobs. The forge will produce 15,000 rounds each year by 2028, with the capacity to produce up to 100,000 for global consumption. It will also be the first dedicated forge outside of the United States to manufacture 155mm M795 artillery ammunition. “Today’s announcement is another example of the Albanese Government’s commitment to developing a more capable military force while also supporting a future made in Australia,” said the Deputy Prime…

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has opened a $6.8m facility in Clayton, Victoria. The facility is dedicated to bringing its printed flexible solar technology out of the lab and into the real world, helping to meet the growing demand for renewable energy across sectors. CSIRO’s flexible solar cells are printed on thin plastic films, unlike traditional silicon solar panels. This makes them lightweight and portable, making them suitable for various applications in urban construction, space, defence, mining, emergency management, disaster relief, and wearables. CSIRO Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections, Professor Elanor Huntington, said the cutting-edge CSIRO Printed Photovoltaic (PV) Facility is the newest addition to CSIRO’s suite of critical infrastructure that enable the industries of tomorrow – in this case, a thriving Australian flexible solar manufacturing industry. “Through CSIRO’s new Printed PV Facility, industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” Professor Huntington said. “It’s exciting to see the techniques that enabled another great CSIRO invention…

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are jointly investing more than $60m over five years to establish the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW’s Tighes Hill campus in Newcastle. Both the Albanese Government and Minns Labor Governments are investing $28.1m, with a further $5.27m in federal funding to support the centre. This will accelerate the development of a Higher Apprenticeship model focused on the advanced skills required for net zero manufacturing. The upgraded Centre will play a pivotal role in building up new skills for workers across the Hunter, investing in their future. “The Hunter region is a powerhouse for energy and manufacturing,” said Premier of NSW, Chris Minns. “We are proud to partner with the Albanese Government to deliver this training centre, so the local community and industry have the skills needed to benefit from the energy transition. “We are getting on with the job of delivering three TAFE Centres of Excellence in NSW, a key part of our commitment to provide fully subsidised training to an additional 1,000 apprenticeships a year in advanced…

The Australian defence and space industry is set to gain onshore manufacturing of new eye-in-the-sky technology. This space camera can provide images back to Earth at high speed to aid in disaster resilience operations, land management, and defence. This multi-sensor Earth observation camera is now being developed with Leonardo, Spiral Blue, Nominal Systems and The Australian National University (ANU), brought together under an iLAuNCH Trailblazer project. “This partnership will bring first mover advantage to Australian industry and ANU, which is set to deliver a commercially viable product for future satellites,” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett. “iLAuNCH is bringing together best-in-class technology that will help detect environmental changes, with translation opportunities to defence, including space domain awareness and missile guidance, and establishing an export market in partnership with Leonardo UK.” Leonardo has developed susceptible detectors for shortwave infrared, which can show heat on an image and see the earth's surface through clouds. However, this shortwave infrared technology has yet to be integrated into a full camera system for space applications. ANU has been developing its Rosella processor, the computer behind…

Now in its 22nd year, the 2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards recognises Victoria's incredible businesses and people dedicated to manufacturing great products. Victoria is a global leader in advanced manufacturing and the nation’s manufacturing heartland. The country benefits from $33.5bn in economic output, 290,000 jobs, and $23.9bn in exports. Every time I come to the Palladium for these Hall of Fame evenings of Awards, I am blown away by the scale of the room and the community of manufacturers in the gathered crowd. There is astonishing colour, positivity, music, and another great excuse to doll up. I am also very impressed by the military precision of the table attendants and the chefs behind them, who produce top-notch meals for the assembled audience. Amazing. The judges had to trawl through 190 nominations and 43 finalists in 13 categories. The two Gold Sponsors for this event were AMTIL, and Melbourne Airport. The evening’s Bronze Sponsors were ALSTOM, CSL, macpherson kelley, Toyota and Volgren. Mike Larkin, the MC, was full of stray jokes, one-liners, and…

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is announcing the call for applications to the Quad AI-ENGAGE Initiative on behalf of the Australian Government and science partner agencies in India, Japan and the United States. The Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE) Initiative calls for cutting-edge research proposals in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), sensors and robotics to help transform agricultural approaches and empower farmers in the Indo-Pacific to increase yield and resilience. By 2050, the world's population is estimated to increase to 9.7 billion people, with a corresponding rise in food demand and pressure on land and water resources. Many of the impacts of these trends will be strongly felt in the Indo-Pacific region, but so will the hope for meaningful solutions. The goal of AI-ENGAGE is to strengthen research collaboration among Quad countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region, improve the impact of critical technology research, and grow our respective agricultural sectors. CSIRO will work with the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Japan's Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to implement…