Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My electorate of Gilmore on the New South Wales south coast is an absolutely beautiful place to live. With pristine beaches and bushland and friendly, creative communities, it's the perfect place to raise a family or to retire. It's world famous for its white sands and towering forests. But the south coast is so much more than a tourist destination; it's also a great place to make things.

Internationally recognised businesses like Air Affairs Australia, now known as QinetiQ, and Alkath's Global Defence Solutions are manufacturing things locally to support the Navy's only air station, HMAS Albatross, at Nowra as well as defence more broadly. The Albatross Aviation Technology Park, just outside of HMAS Albatross, was designed specifically for defence industry to support defence and aviation industries, boosting defence support and advanced manufacturing industries, and creating and supporting local jobs.

In Gilmore we also have innovative local businesses building boats, making construction materials, producing chemicals, and manufacturing food and pharmaceuticals. Bomaderry is home to Manildra's Shoalhaven Starches, which is the largest private employer in the Shoalhaven. Shoalhaven Starches is the largest wheat starch and gluten plant of its kind in the world and operates in conjunction with a world-first ethanol distillery to extract value-added products from 100 per cent of the wheat grain by using the most advanced industry technology available. But, like most businesses of this size, Shoalhaven Starches is always looking to the future to reduce emissions and reduce energy consumption to remain profitable. That's where a Future Made in Australia can help with developing technologies to reduce emissions so we can make more things here in Australia and in our region.

I'm also pleased to say that we have inspiring community organisations like SHASA, the South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance in the Eurobodalla, that are championing renewable energy, sustainability and resilience projects in the region. Whether it's encouraging people to take up EVs through their EV expo or creating bushfire havens with renewable energy, including solar and batteries, SHASA members understand the importance and opportunities for individuals, community organisations and businesses in reducing emissions.

The possibilities in my electorate for small businesses, renewable energy solutions and defence partnerships are endless, and this government's Future Made in Australia Bill will ensure that we can take advantage of these opportunities in Gilmore and right across Australia. This government's Future Made in Australia plan is a no-brainer. Its goal is to make more things here in Australia, to create jobs and to ensure that our economy becomes more resilient and secure into the future. It's a long-term vision to grow our nation into a renewable energy superpower and to encourage companies to invest in new projects and create new jobs, particularly in regional areas like my electorate of Gilmore. People living in Gilmore often have to leave the area for work, and those setting up new and innovative businesses often struggle to keep up with their counterparts in the city. The Future Made in Australia plan will make the most of our natural resources and will give people in regional communities across our nation a chance to seize economic opportunities closer to home. Making more in Gilmore—that's actually a great slogan—will mean our innovators, our researchers, our engineers and our manufactures can work close to home. They can raise their families on our beautiful coast and enjoy the beaches and the bush. They can have the best of both worlds. Investing in a future made in Australia will bring a new generation of secure, well-paid jobs to our regions and towns alike.

This government's plan is to build economic security for the long term by investing in the next generation of jobs and opportunities, to deliver reform that holds no-one back, and to drive progress, leaving no-one behind, no matter where they live. A shining example of one enterprise that has proven that things made in Australia—in Gilmore—are world-class is Air Affairs Australia—now known as QinetiQ—an advanced manufacturing centre and aerospace training services facility at South Nowra. The Shoalhaven has a significant Defence industry, and Air Affairs is a world-leading specialist in manufacturing and training with a focus on navy. Air Affairs products are in demand globally, and prior to COVID exports made up 70 per cent of its business. I'm told that this is because much of the equipment that Australian Defence Force sourced was imported. When COVID hit, those supply chains were interrupted or destroyed. We didn't have much of the critical equipment needed so, in an impressive pivot, Air Affairs was there as a recognised and proven defence industry manufacturer, and now 90 per cent of its products are sold domestically.

Air Affairs is the perfect example of a local, clean manufacturing facility that is making things in Australia. It is creating local jobs and apprenticeships, and providing navy aviation technician training to supply our local Navy base—what could be better? Air Affairs has apprentices at every level across all trades: manufacturing, processing, electrical and painting, mostly with graduates from local schools. They provide a one-stop shop for Defence products, using automation to complement their workers, including with 3D printers and some of the most complex machinery you've ever seen, overseen by mechanical engineers. We need more of this. We need more local jobs, more local training, more homegrown products. We need a future made in Australia and the opportunities it brings. Another Nowra-based business, Alkath's Global Defence Solutions, is a family owned company that has been building and supplying mobile field shelters for the ADF for more than 20 years. These deployable shelters are used as hospitals, kitchens, operations centres and accommodation, but the best part is that the team at GDS live and work in Nowra and support the Shoalhaven community. These two local companies are creating job opportunities, training local people and making things—all on the South Coast. That's exactly what this government's vision for a future made in Australia is all about.

Making our future here in Australia depends on workers, their skills and education, on research and on infrastructure, which is why we're building on the work we've already done. We're expanding the skills of our workforce with fee-free TAFE places, we're investing in our universities' science and cyber capabilities, and our comprehensive plan for cleaner, cheaper energy for all Australians will drive advanced manufacturing and open up opportunities across the country. This important legislation will facilitate private investment in job creation in industries of the future in order to benefit our economy. This government's Future Made in Australia plan is about maximising the economic and industrial benefits of the global transformation to net zero, and securing Australia's place in a changing global, economic and strategic landscape. It will help Australia build a stronger, more diversified and resilient economy powered by renewable energy. It will create more secure, well-paid jobs and encourage and facilitate the private-sector investment required to make Australia an indispensable part of the global net zero economy.

The Future Made in Australia Bill recognises our future growth prospects lie at the intersection of our industrial resources, skills and energy bases, and our attractiveness as an investment destination. It combines our comparative advantage in renewable energy with traditional strengths in resources and manufacturing to build new opportunities, including in critical-minerals processing, green metals, clean energy technologies and low-carbon liquid fuels. The world needs Australia's resources. We can make things here and turn our resources into products that the world wants.

Our Future Made in Australia vision will put the talents of our people and our incredible natural resources to work making things here so we are not shipping things overseas and importing them back as finished products. We know this is possible because it's already happening. Companies are using Australian minerals to manufacture solar panels to put on our roofs. Researchers are making breakthroughs in science that will lead to new medicines. Under Labor we're generating 25 per cent more renewable energy, and we've ticked off enough renewable projects to power three million homes. Our Future Made in Australia plan is about giving an adrenaline boost to projects like these and making sure they have what they need to compete in the future.

Right now the world is Australia's oyster, so let's make the most of that. Our world-class renewable energy resources make Australia well placed to produce green hydrogen at internationally competitive prices. Significant quantities of green iron, steel, alumina and aluminium will be required to support the energy transition globally and domestically. Both steel and aluminium are used in wind turbines, electric vehicles and grid infrastructure. However, traditional metals production is highly carbon intensive. Australia can develop a long-term comparative advantage in green metals by drawing on our abundant metal and renewable energy resources. These are the resources that will drive our economy and the global economy in the 21st century.

Australia's potential to produce abundant renewable energy gives us a powerful advantage. We have the resources, we have the space and we have the opportunity to create a future made in Australia and to take advantage of the world's desire to transition to net zero. As the sunniest, windiest continent on earth, this is our moment. More than anywhere on earth, Australia is poised to gain new jobs, new industries and new skills. That's why we're investing in our people now.

This government is investing $91 million over the next five years to accelerate the development of the clean energy workforce through expanded access to the New Energy Apprenticeship Program and investments in VET clean energy courses. We're expanding support for women training in male-dominated industries through $55.6 million for the Building Women's Careers Program and $38.2 million to support diversity in science, technology, engineering and maths. This is part of this government's targeted approach to meeting the skills needed for a future made in Australia, including $68.4 million to attract and retain the skilled industrial workforce needed to support defence industrial priorities. This is a smart plan to build an economy where manufacturing will become every bit as strong as mining. But we can't be left behind by the rest of the world. We need to start now. We must look forward and plan for Australia's future and invest in it today.

It's important to note that this bill is not about government replacing private investment. It's about government being a catalyst for investment and unlocking the private capital to build new projects, create new jobs and drive growth and prosperity. This government wants a more diversified economy and a more decentralised economy where workers and communities in every part of the country can share in the opportunities that lie before us. We need to open the doors to new opportunities right now. We need to plan for a future made in Australia right now. We don't have time to waste. This bill is at the heart of our government's vision for a stronger, more prosperous and more resilient Australian economy. This bill speaks to our unwavering determination to shape the future of Australia, not wait for the future to shape us. It's time to make the most of what we have and make more things here. It's time to make Australia wealthier. It's time to make Australia more secure, and it's time to make Australia more independent. That's what a Future Made in Australia is all about. It's an economic plan for a better future for all Australians.

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