Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Many companies are still under pressure, but there are encouraging signs of a revival in the sector. The Australian Industry Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index for August showed that the industry was expanding again after some 14 months of contraction, and the expansion has continued in September. Aggregate manufacturing employment was at the same level in the August quarter this year as it was in the November quarter of 2008. Job numbers actually rose in the August quarter compared with the preceding three months. That is not to deny the hardship that has been experienced by workers who have been retrenched, but it tells us that many manufacturers are still hiring. That is good news for the industry and it is good news for Australia, which relies on our manufacturing to generate jobs, exports, innovation and demand for goods and services across the economy. (Time expired)