Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Spence for the question. I know he's particularly pleased about the $10 million budget investment we made in the Flinders University's Factory of the Future, building advanced manufacturing skills in businesses and workers in the great state of South Australia. There are a number of projects that we invested in, backing in the proud contribution of the regions to our national manufacturing effort.

From the Prime Minister across the breadth of the party, we're joined in the belief that Australia should be a country that makes things—a truism underscored by what we experienced as a nation through the pandemic; the things that we needed most weren't there when we needed them, at the time that we needed them the most. We, like many nations, are determined to pare back our dependence on one or two countries for our goods. It's not just that we should be a country that makes things but that Australia must be a country that makes things—backing our businesses, their workers and their great ideas because we believe in revitalising manufacturing in the national interest. That's why you saw in last night's budget a commitment through a first down payment in our National Reconstruction Fund, where we'll build capability, resources, agriculture, energy, and medical and emerging technology. We'll put that capability to work through our Buy Australian Plan, which will open up government contracts to Australian industry—all adding up to a future made in Australia.

I couldn't help but notice last night the contrast in the delivery of the budget to what we've seen previously. Before we had a coalition Treasurer stand at that despatch box daring manufacturers to leave the country, and last night you had a Labor treasurer backing in the view that this is a place where we should do more onshore. We believe in manufacturing in the national interest. Those opposite only ever believe in it in the political interest. Look at their record—they cut programs, they goaded manufacturers to go offshore and then they scrambled to do a U-turn. Two years ago this month, they announced a $1.5 billion manufacturing program, which in 2020 they invested nothing in. Fifty shades of flex!

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