Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a further contribution.

Leave granted.

I think in this debate it is worth putting forward—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

I will try and speak without interruption given the member for Charlton has just had his go. I think it is worth putting on the record a number of initiatives of this government. Last year the government released the industry innovation and competitiveness agenda, which recognises the important link between science and industry. The government will provide $188.5 million to pursue global excellence in areas of competitive strength through industry growth centres.

I do note the member for Charlton's comments in relation to the industry hubs, which was the previous government's policy. I have to say, those industry hubs were regarded by industry as a failure. They were actually providing very little funding, particularly in the advanced manufacturing and the other hubs that were being rolled out in Victoria. What we are seeing with the Minister for Industry announcement is a very strong commitment to grow the jobs of the future.

I hear the member for Charlton talk about how he does not want to engage in rhetoric and then he talked about the rustbelt. Again, this sort of rhetoric is incredibly disappointing. Perhaps he should come down to my home town of Geelong, a very fine advanced manufacturing town, a town where the member for Corio said to the Geelong Advertiser, 'manufacturing was dying' under this federal government. However, it is a town with 12,000 people employed in manufacturing with 500 manufacturers. Manufacturing is responsible for around 40 per cent of the region's GDP, so we are seeing a very strong commitment through the growth fund that we announced, the local Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund, a $29.5 million fund. Unfortunately, the Victorian government committed $7.5 million to that fund but currently only $4 million is committed. We are still waiting to see that money delivered.

I say to members opposite, come to my home town of Geelong and look what we are doing. Look at the examples, look at where we are investing. Carbon Revolution is an incredible business investing in state-of-the-art carbon fibre wheels for the global auto market. Come and look at Marand, which is helping to build the trailer for the engines of the joint strike fighter, an incredible defence company building 14,000 separate parts in this trailer and making Geelong very proud.

I do reiterate, and it is on the record, that the decisions to cease manufacturing in Australia by 2016 from Ford and 2017 from Holden and Toyota, were made entirely by the companies themselves. It is important to note that on 10 March 2015 the government announced that the Automotive Transformation Scheme, which provides investment for support for research and development, is going to continue as legislated. I do appreciate that there was an announcement by our government to cease that scheme, but we are continuing it. It was caught up in the Senate. That will give not only Ford, Holden and Toyota but also, very importantly component manufacturers the opportunity to continue to get the full support under that scheme.

I also look at what is happening in research and development by Ford in Geelong. Again we see Ford with an employment workforce of something like 490 workers at Ford's proving ground and at Ford's research and development operation in Geelong—a very strong commitment to global auto manufacturing, right through beyond 2017.

I also want to put on the record that the Australian government is committed to acquiring a future submarine that provides the best possible capability and value for money for Australian taxpayers while maximising the involvement of Australian industry. That is the responsible thing to do. The government has stated that it is investigating a number of options for new submarines from France, Germany and Japan whilst at the same time ensuring that Australian workers and Australian manufacturers, particularly focussed in South Australia, get every opportunity to be part of that very significant project. The competitive evaluation process announced by Minister Andrews will ensure that capability, cost, schedule and key strategic considerations will be very much a part of our Future Submarine program. (Time expired)

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