Peter Hendy (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to note a recent visit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to a business in Queanbeyan, Server Racks Australia. It was great having a senior cabinet minister taking time out from a busy schedule to come and visit this firm in my seat of Eden-Monaro. I want to thank the business owner, Mr Bob Campbell, along with his senior team, Simon Dunphy and Mick Lloyd, for giving us a tour of their manufacturing business.

It has been operating for around 30 years now and employs just under 50 people. Server Racks Australia combines state-of-the-art computer-controlled equipment with a multiskilled workforce and innovative manufacturing processes to produce commercial and endorsed racks and accessories for the IT industry.

They took the opportunity to discuss with the foreign minister and me various business issues, in particular the challenges they faces as a high-technology manufacturing firm. We were pleased to be able to advise that in the budget we have funded the Department of Finance to work with business to get better outcomes for Australian business in terms of accessing government contracts.

Minister Bishop outlined some other important budget measures, including the fact that the government is offering young people an incentive to help them study a trade. The government is also offering businesses a $10,000 bonus to employ workers aged over 50. It is these sorts of policies that will boost local manufacturing in our region.