Stephen Jones (Throsby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, in your opening statement you talked about the challenging environment that manufacturing, in particular, is facing, with competition from emerging economies, the high Australian dollar, higher input costs—particularly in the steel sector with coal and iron ore over the past three years at times hitting record prices. I am interested in some of the measures—some of which you have identified—that are supporting manufacturing. It matters a lot in my electorate, the electorate of Throsby in New South Wales, which has traditionally had a big reliance on manufacturing and related industries for regional wealth creation and of course jobs.

I know it is outside of your portfolio specifically, but some of it falls within your portfolio. I count eight specific measures, one of them being the antidumping measures that have gone through a number of amendments over the last 12 months to bring them into line with international practice and the current circumstances. I would like to hear from you, Minister, why that and how that is important to Australian manufacturing businesses.

Minister, you also mentioned the innovation precincts in response to a question from the member for Dunkley. I am interested in how the innovation precincts would assist local manufacturers, not only now but into the future. The steel industry innovation plan is an important program for the steel makers in my electorate, particularly BlueScope. Why was that plan important, and how is it making a difference? Minister, could you advise us on how that is making a difference in securing the future of the steel industry in this country? I think you have already gone to the clean energy investment programs, so I will not question you further on that. The automotive industry innovation program is an important program. We know the industry is going through a lot of stress at the moment. Are there any threats to the ongoing future of that program?

Finally, there is the Australian jobs legislation, the Australian Jobs Bill, which passed through the House of Representatives last week. A crucial part of that program looks at Australian industry participation plans. Of course, these are not new. We have had Australian industry participation plans in place for quite some time. What is new about the arrangements in the Australian Jobs Bill? What other provisions included in the bill will make a difference?

When I talk to manufacturers in my electorate, one of their common retorts is: 'We can't win work in a lot of these large resources, government and other related projects. We get mickey mouse invitations to tender. Sometimes they come in on the Friday and close on the Monday. We want to know what the government is going to do. How is this bill going to make a difference for businesses such as this to win work in these large projects and how is it going to support local manufacturing?'

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