Government News

During the launch of the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) Corporation Bill in the House of Representatives in Canberra, the Minister for Industry, Science and Manufacturing Ed Husic said the Fund would help create secure, high-paying jobs for workers across the country, including in the regions, outer suburbs and remote communities. The NRF will invest $15bn across priority areas of the economy including renewables and low emissions technologies, medical science, transport, value-adding in resources, value-adding in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, defence capability and enabling technologies. “The National Reconstruction Fund is a nation-building, transformational investment to help deliver a better future,” said Minister Husic. “I look forward to working constructively across the Senate to deliver the National Reconstruction Fund for Australians.” The Assistant Trade and Manufacturing Minister Tim Ayres appeared on Sky News on later on Thursday, to explain the impact of this legislation. Speaking to host Laura Jayes, he said, “It's going to give us the capacity to deal with the industrial and energy challenges of the future. Actually, we've got…

Victorian Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty Ben Carroll has announced nominations are open for this year’s awards, which is the state’s biggest celebration of Victoria’s leading manufacturers. Established in 2001, the awards recognise individuals and companies that embrace new technologies, excel in business innovation, drive exports and boost the state’s economy. Victoria’s $31bn manufacturing industry is made up of more than 23,000 businesses, employing more than 260,000 people – providing around 30% of Australia’s manufacturing output. “The awards recognise our top manufacturers that are leading from the front – cementing our status as Australia’s manufacturing state,” said Ben Carroll, the Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty. “We’ll continue to back our manufacturers so they can create more local jobs, drive innovation and power our economy – ensuring more products are made in Victoria.” Nominations are open for 15 categories including ‘Young Manufacturer of the Year’, ‘Woman Manufacturer of the Year’ and ‘Honour Roll for Services to Industry’. Nine new awards have been introduced this year including ‘Manufacturing Apprentice’, ’Regional Manufacturer’, as well as leaders…

The Made in Victoria – Manufacturing Growth Program aims to support small and medium sized manufacturers to: — Expand their capacity and capability by implementing new manufacturing technologies. — Improve productivity and competitiveness in local and global supply chains. — Create new jobs and upskill and/or reskill workers. — Support the transition to a low carbon economy. What funding is available? Grants of between $50,000 and $250,000 are on offer on a 2:1 basis (i.e. applicants must contribute $2 for every $1 of funding from the Victorian Government). What are the eligibility criteria? To be eligible, applicants must: — Have an ABN. — Employ at least 20 FTE or have an annual turnover of greater than $1.5m. Note that preference will be given to applicants with less than 200 employees and annual turnover less than $100m. — Be able to demonstrate financial viability to undertake the project and be able to provide three years’ worth of audited financial statements. — Be currently engaged in manufacturing…

The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) aims to support Australian SMEs to expand Australian products and services to foreign markets by providing funding for promotional activities and development of marketing skills. What are the eligibility criteria? Applicants must: — Have a turnover of less than $20 million in the prior financial year. — Be exporting or ready to export eligible goods, services, events, IP or know-how, and/or software that is of substantially Australian origin. — Be intending to incur eligible expenditure on promotional activities undertaken for the purpose of marketing eligible products overseas (excluding New Zealand). — Be able to match the grant amount awarded at least on a 1:1 basis. Important to note: The EMDG program is an eligibility-based program, which means that all eligible applicants will receive a grant from the available funding pool ($157.9 million per year). This means the grant amount an applicant receives depends on the number of eligible applications in the grant round…

BAE Systems Australia has teamed with local industry to present Australia’s first domestically designed, manufactured and armed VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) Uncrewed Air System (UAS). STRIXTM is being developed by BAE Systems Australia and Perth-based Innovaero and launched today at the 2023 Avalon Airshow in Geelong, Australia. The collaboration brings together BAE Systems’ global expertise in autonomous platforms and its vehicle management system (VMS) technology with Innovaero’s knowledge of aeronautical product design and manufacture in the Australian market. A hybrid, tandem wing, multi-domain and multi-role UAS capability, STRIX could be used for a variety of missions including an air-to-ground strike against hostile targets and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). It could also act as a ‘loyal wingman’ for military helicopters. Designed to carry up to a 160kg payload over 800km, STRIX will be capable of operating in high-risk environments. With a collapsed footprint of 2.6m x 4.5m, it could be easily transported in standard shipping. Its VTOL capability means STRIX could be used without relying on an airfield. It could also be operated from a helicopter to expand the mission set and protect…

Established in 1954, precision gear manufacturer Ronson Gears is a Melbourne-based company of 43 staff that services a range of sectors globally. From aerospace to agriculture, defense, energy, off-highway, medical and rail, Ronson prides itself on delivering quality products through innovation. A hands-on, third-generation family business, it stays abreast of technological developments as a member of various leading associations, having engineered gears for all industrial applications. Boosting supply chain Selected by BAE Systems Australia amongst a handful of other Australian SMEs for the delivery of sub-missiles, Ronson Gears will enable the growth of a significant sovereign supply chain, providing opportunities for future design, integration and advanced manufacturing. BAE Systems and an expanded network of Australian industry partners will deliver sub-assemblies into Block 2 of the ESSM program under a new three-year full-rate production contract with a contracted customer in the United States. The ESSM is a medium-range surface-to-air missile developed to protect warships from advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. BAE Systems is the Australian industry…

Melbourne-based Corvus Technology Solutions is pleased to announce it has received the first round of funding under its Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant from the Australian Government. Corvus was the successful recipient last year of a $3m grant under the MMI, which forms part of the Australian Government’s wider $2.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy. The funds will be invested to boost Australia’s sovereign capability with the installation of high-precision machinery at Corvus’ manufacturing facility in Victoria. This will enable Corvus to produce a large number of precision parts and tooling with very high accuracy and consistency for the defence, aerospace, automotive, medical device and electronics industries, among others. Corvus Operations Manager Ryan Higgins said the funds received under the MMI would not only enhance Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities, but also provide a significant boost to local employment. “The $3m awarded under the MMI will help us establish fully integrated, precision manufacturing capabilities at our facility and support the creation of more than 300 local manufacturing jobs over the next five years,” he said. “It will also enhance our competitiveness to bid on more contracts in the…

Hydrogen production should be carefully regulated and consumers informed about emissions credentials if Australia is to achieve a sustainable energy economy and net zero emissions by 2050, QUT experts warn. Published in Sustainable Energy & Fuels, a QUT analysis shows the differences between hydrogen production based on a generic primary fuel source – coal, natural gas, or renewables – and the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) that needs to be abated for net zero emissions. Associate Professor Jonathan Love from the QUT Centre for Clean Energy Technology and Practices said the analysis highlighted considerations for future studies, policy deliberation, and consumer regulatory frameworks for clean electricity and transport. “We need to consider the end-to-end process to produce and use hydrogen if we are to say it’s sustainable and is part of the clean energy transition,” Professor Love said. “Different fuel cells produce very different outcomes when considering the best use of fuel for sustainability outcomes. “There is no current policy that links consumer fuel cell technology choices with the primary energy source or emissions, so hydrogen producers could end up making sustainability outcomes worse. This highlights…

Imagine a system that gathers the energy from a braking train as it approaches a station, briefly stores it, then reinjects it into the train’s power supply as it accelerates on its way. Such an energy redistributor has been applied as an alternative to building and connecting a new rectifier substation on the Metro Trains Melbourne (Metro) Hurstbridge Line Upgrade Project. The Australian-first application of ABB’s 1,500 Volt DC ABB Enviline Energy Storage System (ESS), which not only stores but also returns the surplus braking energy back to the grid, will allow the Metro service to make more efficient use of electricity, increasing its sustainability and allowing it to add extra trains at a lower than usual cost; passengers will experience a smoother ride – no more spilled coffee. The pilot project, completed six months ago, has had to negotiate several obstacles, call them mountain ranges, on its three-year journey to completion. But two indomitable ABB…

Australian advanced manufacturer ANCA is pleased to announce it has received the first round of funding under its Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant from the Australian Government. ANCA will establish a precision manufacturing cell at its Bayswater headquarters, using the grant delivered through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative. The company supplies advanced tool-making machines and technology to aerospace, medical, automotive, and electronic industries, exporting to more than 45 countries. Assistant Minister for Manufacturing Tim Ayres said he was pleased to announce the grant, delivering this advanced manufacturing capability at a time when building sovereign capability has never been more important. “Over the last decade, Australian exports have slipped down the global value chain as our exports have become less complex,” Assistant Minister Ayres said. “This grant will enable ANCA to build a new designated precision manufacturing cell and continue enhancing Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities. It will also create an estimated 157 highly skilled jobs during the project and about 330 jobs after five years.” This grant is under the MMI,…

CRC grants provide funding for industry-led research centres that can transform Australian know-how into practical outcomes for Australian businesses. The grants can support industry-led collaborative research centres of up to ten years duration. “The Government’s CRC program supports research and development initiatives that result in significant benefits to industry and the community,” Minister Husic said. “This funding can provide an often-missing step between research and commercialisation.” The latest evaluation of the CRC program, released today, shows it is working to strengthen the bond between industry and research organisations. “This evaluation found CRCs will contribute about $32.5bn towards economic productivity by 2025 through commercialisation of new technologies, products, and services that solve real problems for industry,” Minister Husic said. “The evaluation also concluded CRCs will continue to help address Australia’s economic, environmental and social challenges by enhancing capability of the research workforce.” Grant applications are open to all industry sectors and research disciplines, with applicants at least matching the funding sought through cash or in‑kind contributions from partners. Since the CRC…

The University of Southern Queensland is a successful recipient under the Australian Government’s $362m Trailblazer Universities initiative, giving the green light to the University of Southern Queensland-led ‘Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Hub’. In a giant step for the Australian space sector, the University of Southern Queensland leads Australia’s effort to boost commercialisation and national capability in the space sector thanks to $50m in funding from the Federal Government’s inaugural Trailblazer Universities Program. Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said along with university partners the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA), and industry partners, the University would lead Australian breakthroughs in an area of critical national manufacturing priority. “The University of Southern Queensland is already a leader in space manufacturing with expertise in hypersonic propulsion systems, advanced materials, and astrophysics,” Professor Mackenzie said. “iLAuNCH Hub will improve Australia’s skills in the space sector, providing new jobs and boosting the economy, and also help ensure our country’s space expertise grows well into the future.” It is anticipated that the…