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

Today we have made a big step in the parliament, with both houses passing the National Reconstruction Fund bill. That's a big one. It's a good day if you believe in Australian manufacturing. It's a good day if you believe in good blue-collar jobs. It's a good day if you believe in backing businesses, from our outer suburbs to our regions to remote Australia. It's a very, very important day. When I visit Australian industry, as I have over many years, I see the ambitions of those who want to be self-sufficient in the most critical areas of our economy, who want to reduce our dependence on concentrated and broken supply chains and who want to see us able to create good, secure, well-paying jobs not just for now but for our kids and for their kids—making sure we've got that economic prosperity long term. It's an ambition that government can work with industry to get things done. Most importantly, friends, it's an ambition that Australia should be a country that makes things. We work together.

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