Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Minister Farrell. I refer to the Albanese Labor government's commitment to deliver a future made in Australia that delivers secure, well-paid jobs in regions and outer suburbs across the country. What has the Albanese government already done to start this important work?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for that question.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A fine senator!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A very fine senator from South Australia who is doing a wonderful job for the people of South Australia. Thank you for a question, finally, this week!

The Albanese Labor government has been committed to supporting the Australian manufacturing industry from day one. We established the $392 million Industry Growth Program, with the Minister for Industry and Science—that wonderful fellow, Minister Husic—recently announcing the first grant recipients to support small and medium manufacturing businesses. One of the recipients is Cauldron Molecules; it received $4.3 million to develop a world-first hyperfermentation facility just outside Orange, in regional New South Wales. Their technology aims to bring down the cost of biomanufacturing across a wide range of products: food, feed, fibre and fuel—the four Fs. This government support of Cauldron will help keep other Australian manufacturers at the cutting edge, making a wider range of products at competitive prices. Cauldron have proved their technology works in the lab, and this grant will help show it can work in a 10-kilolitre pilot facility. After that, they plan to scale up to a 100-kilolitre facility that can deliver commercial volumes to their customers.

This government's approach is already delivering a growing manufacturing industry, and—listen to this—there are more than 70,000 more workers in secure, well-paid manufacturing jobs since we came to government.

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wow—70,000!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, 70,000. There's no time to waste, and that's why this government is getting on with the job. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, first supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for outlining the ways the Albanese Labor government is strengthening the nation's manufacturing capability and delivering secure, well-paid jobs across the country. A future made in Australia is about turning great Australian ideas into growing local businesses. What is the government doing to help foster more great ideas that can create the iconic Australian businesses of the future?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for that very incisive question. The Minister for Industry and Science announced this week our new national science and research priorities, which place science at the forefront of our industrial transformation, connecting science, research and manufacturing to secure our future in our country that makes things here.

One of the key ways that the government fosters this connection is through the Cooperative Research Centres Program. One example is Australian Vintage Ltd, which received a $3 million grant in January 2024 to support research and innovation in no- and low-alcohol wines, which have the potential to be a huge growth area for the Australian wine industry, particularly in that great state of South Australia.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, second supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for outlining the ways the Albanese Labor government is growing innovative and world-leading Australian businesses. Why is this government so determined to rebuild Australian manufacturing? How does this compare to the Liberals and Nationals, who oversaw a decade of inaction towards Australian manufacturing?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, once again, thank Senator Smith for her question. Sadly, when the Liberals and Nationals have been given the chance to support workers, they have repeatedly chosen to play politics. Again we're seeing the unholy alliance of the coalition and the Greens. The coalition have teamed up with the Greens to block affordable homes for Australians, and now they're teaming up to block high-paying jobs for Australians. Whether it's capping gas prices or delivering better wages and lower taxes for manufacturing workers, every time we hear the same response from the Liberals and the Nationals: no, no, no. And now, when it comes to supporting a future made in Australia—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why are you so defensive?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not defensive, Senator McKenzie. I'm out there; I'm forward leading. Once again, the Liberals and the Nationals are turning their backs on Australian workers.