Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Kitching, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2021:

The Australian manufacturing industry, with specific regard to:

(a) what manufacturing capacities Australia requires for economic growth, national resilience, rising living standards for all Australians and security in our region;

(b) the role that the Australian manufacturing industry has played, is playing and will play in the future;

(c) the drivers of growth in manufacturing in Australia and around the world;

(d) the strengths of Australia's existing manufacturing industry and opportunities for its development and expansion;

(e) the sectors in which Australian manufacturers enjoy a natural advantage in energy, access to primary resources and skilled workers over international competitors, and how to capitalise on those advantages;

(f) identifying new areas in which the Australian manufacturing industry can establish itself as a global leader;

(g) the role that government can play in assisting our domestic manufacturing industry, with specific regard to:

(i) research and development,

(ii) attracting investment,

(iii) supply chain support,

(iv) government procurement,

(v) trade policy, and

(vi) skills and training; and

(h) the opportunity for reliable, cheap, renewable energy to keep Australia's manufactured exports competitive in a carbon-constrained global economy and the role that our manufacturing industry can play in delivering the reliable, cheap, renewable energy that is needed.