Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's fantastic that the member for Chifley is in here again listening to another opportunity where I can talk about what I'm doing in Western Sydney, particularly when it comes to backing manufacturing. We all know the facts are in the numbers, and the numbers are high in Lindsay, with 600 manufacturers. I think the numbers are so low for the member for Chifley, I can't even remember what they were. There is a great opportunity to talk about supporting industries because we're not only supporting them in Western Sydney; we are actually creating industries, particularly when it comes to advanced manufacturing, and ensuring our manufacturers have lower energy prices, unlike those opposite.

At the last election, Labor's failed energy policies included a 45 per cent emission reduction target that we know was going to slash jobs and slash industries like manufacturing. We still have the same old Labor putting together incoherent energy and climate policies. As the member for Hunter put it:

… after 14 years of trying, the Labor Party has made not one contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in this country.

Only the Morrison government can deliver affordable, reliable energy for our manufacturing industry in Western Sydney—and it's not just me saying this. John from ACO Australia in Emu Plains joined me and the Prime Minister for our manufacturing roundtable because the Prime Minister, like me, is a very passionate about ensuring we're backing Aussie manufacturers in Lindsay and Western Sydney. ACO predominantly uses gas to power their plant, manufacturing items for use in the construction industry—another industry that the Morrison government is backing. John noted the recent decrease in their gas costs has improved the efficiency of their business. This is part of a consistent drop in their gas expenses over the last year, going from almost $10,000 per month in early 2020, down to around $7,000—a saving of $3,000 this year. John told me that this is allowing ACO to invest more into their business. The more they can invest into their business, the more local jobs they can create. This is how delivering affordable, reliable energy gives manufacturers in Lindsay, and right across Australia, the certainty to reinvest into their business so they can scale up and be competitive on the global stage.

We are backing the manufacturing industry. At my manufacturers' roundtable, 30 manufacturers from right across Lindsay spoke to the Prime Minister and me, and it was really a testament to how our national policies are working on the ground. I've got some great feedback from some of our local manufacturers, including Tracy, the Managing Director of Plustec. She is a proud Aussie manufacturer and she has also used another policy of ours, the instant asset write-off, which has enabled her to purchase equipment that she needs to scale up, to expand, and to create more local jobs. She told me and the Prime Minister how the instant asset write-off is making the processes in her business more efficient, streamlining the production and allowing her to reinvest more in her business.

It's not only manufacturing that we're investing in in Western Sydney. We're not only supporting this industry but growing and creating a new industry in advanced manufacturing. We're also investing in local jobs when it comes to the construction industry, when it comes to everything around Western Sydney international airport. This is where the new opportunities are coming in advanced manufacturing.

I'm really pleased to say that we're supporting industries out there and local jobs so much that already the Western Sydney airport are almost doubling their local employment targets through the construction phase. A great local small-business owner, Frank, the managing director of Two Way Cranes, based in Western Sydney, told me how proud he is to be part of this project. He said: 'Securing the crane hire contract for Western Sydney airport was one of the highlights of my business career. The project has enabled me to look further into the future, order new cranes and hire more employees. Most of my current employees and staff were born and raised in Western Sydney, and we all enjoy working on the project.' Two Way Cranes are also engaging local businesses throughout their work on site, further supporting our economy and local jobs.

We're investing in Western Sydney airport to create the jobs of the future, to back our local industry, to back our local small businesses and to even create a new industry in advanced manufacturing. This is all about local people and supporting local jobs.

See this speech in context