Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his very thoughtful question. The government recognises the contribution manufacturing makes to Australian jobs, to growth, to exports and to innovation. Manufacturing drives activity right across the economy. Every dollar’s worth of manufacturing production generates $1.30 worth of demand for services and primary products.

One way we are backing Australian manufacturers is by ensuring that they have full, fair and reasonable opportunity to compete for work on major projects and procurements in both the public and private sectors and at home and abroad. In July I announced a $19.1 million package to strengthen Australia’s industry participation framework. That included $8.2 million to appoint specialist supplier advocates. Their job is to champion Australian industry and to improve its ability to compete by extending networks and capabilities.

Today it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of our first supplier advocate, Mr Bruce Griffiths, whose focus will be on our $3 billion rail manufacturing sector. This is a highly skilled, highly technical industry with huge potential. Working with individual companies, unions, industry associations and the government, the supplier advocate will help small and medium sized firms market their products to government buyers. They will be able to support sectoral initiatives to make firms much more competitive and they will be able to coordinate support from the Industry Capability Network, Enterprise Connect, Austrade and other programs. This is all about creating new opportunities for an industry that already employs 8,000 Australians and is ideally placed to have an even bigger— (Time expired)