You can find details of our motion on page 144, here. Thankfully, the motion was provisionally passed but I wanted to share why this particular was so important and the speech I would have spoken if this motion had been opposed.
Did you know that Australia ranks last in manufacturing self-sufficiency among all OECD countries? COVID-19 has not only highlighted, but has exposed the vulnerabilities in our supply chain. It’s a critical reminder that we need to have the capacity to produce and make sophisticated goods, equipment, and parts.
Our local manufacturing sector is not just an economic engine for future prosperity – it’s also a strategic asset. If we want to lead in innovation, we need a strong manufacturing base. Ongoing innovation allows us to grow our standard of living, drive job creation, and provide a competitive environment for businesses.
In Dandenong alone, we create high value components for next-gen space, aerospace, defence, mobility, and medical technologies. One example is Alstom, who has helped produced over 600 trams and over 800 trains in Australia, many of which are still in service. Another is Nissan Casting Australia in Dandenong South, which produces aluminium die-cast components used in Nissan’s electric vehicle models, sold not in just Australia, but worldwide.
While domestic manufacturing supports our national economic performance and it is also an industry that supports hundreds of thousands of other jobs through its supply chain. During this General Assembly, we have touched on very real disruptions in global supply chains and access. To safeguard our future, we must maintain the capacity to produce essential goods domestically and strengthen our sovereign supply chains.
When we fail to support local manufacturing, we expose ourselves to an unbalanced trade environment and risk becoming dependent on foreign powers. That’s not just an economic risk. It has the potential to be a significant national security concern.
These are very real outcomes we can deliver for both businesses and communities by ensuring our federal manufacturing policy is aligned with our local government capabilities and needs. But we cannot do this without the support and coordination of Federal government action. We need a collaborative, multi-level governance approach, so we, at a local level, can be active contributors to Australia’s industrial future.
Supporting this motion means benefits not only in jobs, but in income, innovation, and export. It’s a forward-thinking approach that empowers us to be self-reliant in a turbulent, unpredictable international environment. Support economic growth. Support our national resilience. And support the increase in living standards for all Australians.