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The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union has welcomed the “Future Made in Australia” package worth $22.7 billion, announced under this week’s federal budget.
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During the federal budget address, the package was announced to include $13.7 billion in production tax incentives for green hydrogen and processed critical minerals, $1.7 billion for a Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund to develop new industries such as green metals and low carbon fuels, $520 million to deepen net zero trade and engagement with our region, and $566 million to map the geological potential of our country in critical minerals and groundwater.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) national secretary Steve Murphy said the package cements it as the biggest industrial policy shift in our lifetime.
“It’s a big win for the AMWU and for our members. We have been tirelessly campaigning for the last three years to make this a reality,” Murphy said.
“It means we are now moving from ‘if’ we will make things here, to ‘how’ we will make things here. It’s time for things to be made in Australia again.”
AMWU welcomed the investment of $500 million in skills for priority industries like clean energy, construction, and manufacturing.
Murphy said the AMWU is heartened to see the federal government heed its calls in transforming Australia into a clean energy superpower.
“We have extraordinary natural advantages in wind and sun, and we are incredibly rich in critical minerals. We must leverage these advantages with necessary speed,” Murphy said.
“There are significant opportunities in major renewable technologies such as battery cell manufacturing, electric heavy vehicles, onshore and offshore wind power, solar panel manufacturing and domestic production of high voltage cables for renewable energy transmission.
“Not only can we shore up domestic demand, we can unlock significant export potential for Australia. This gives us an opportunity to increase our sovereign capability and bolster our economic future.”
The AMWU recently backed strike action taken by South Australian submarine workers employed at government-operated ASC maintenance and sustainment facility in Osborne Park Shipyard earlier this month.
AMWU, AWU, and ETU members were seeking ASC to address the discrepancy with Western Australian and South Australian wages.
Murphy said the AMWU will have a key role to play in a strong, modern, and green manufacturing sector as the voice for workers across various industries.
“We can secure generations of high-skill, high-quality, well-paid manufacturing jobs and develop new high-value renewable industries as part of the clean energy transition.”
“We welcome the investment of skills and training for a workforce that will power our future. We need hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople over the next decade as we decarbonise our economy, transition to renewable energy powered industries, and lift our productivity.”
A “Make in India” initiative designed to promote domestic development, manufacturing and assembly of products in India was previously launched in 2014.
That program has attracted international attention not only for job creation, manufacturing and foreign investment, but also domestic manufacturing and development of defence industry products and research.
Defence Connect is providing deeper insight on the federal budget during the upcoming Defence Connect Budget Summit, hosted this Friday, 17 May, at the Great Hall, Parliament House in Canberra. Attendees can engage with the Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy as he sits down with veteran journalist David Speers for an in-person Q&A, unpacking audience questions on Defence’s ambitious acquisition program in light of the federal budget.
