Category: Australian News

The Morrison Government will invest $50 million to create a new business and research partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Newcastle (UoN), creating 1,600 jobs over the next four years.

UNSW and UoN will work with 27 industry partners, including 23 small businesses, to develop world-leading technology in solar, hydrogen, storage and green metals, and rapidly deploy new technology solutions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the UNSW – UoN partnership is the third Trailblazer to receive funding through the Trailblazer program which is designed to focus Australia’s considerable research power on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.

“Our economic plan is supercharging Australia’s research and development, creating more jobs and helping to build a strong economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are investing in new clean energy technology to turbo charge our significant investments in hydrogen to create jobs around Australia, particularly in the Hunter.”

Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said the UNSW – UoN partnership and its industry collaborators have promised more than $220 million in co-investment, matching public funding by around 4 to 1.

“The co-investment of industry partners, and especially by the 23 partner small businesses, shows that Australian industry is hungry to collaborate with universities to unleash a new wave of technology and innovation,” Minister Robert said.

“This project will help harness the cutting-edge clean energy research being done in our top universities, including in hydrogen, solar, and green metals.

“This Trailblazer funding means more jobs right here in Australia, a stronger research and development sector and a stronger economy.”

The Trailblazer has an ambitious set of clean energy technological advances, including:

• Meet the need for lightweight hydrogen storage that can deliver for transport and fuel replacement needs
• Extend the success of Green Steel technology to other metals such as aluminium
• Develop Australian-first zero emissions aviation in a form suitable for regional aircraft
• Develop ultra-low-cost solar with cutting-edge engineering
• Build the first at-scale printed solar manufacturing plant, providing the step-change needed to vault the technology to full commercialisation.

The UNSW – UoN partnership is the third successful Trailblazer to be announced, with further announcements expected in coming weeks.

The UNSW – UoN partnership was selected as a Trailblazer from a two-stage competitive assessment process where universities were required to submit expressions and interest and then more detailed business cases.

The Morrison Government has invested $362 million in the Trailblazer Universities program – an initial $243 million announced in November last year and an additional $119 million through our regional accelerator announced on Budget night. This is part of the Government’s $2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan, which will focus the considerable research power of our universities on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.

Liberal candidate for Shortland Nell McGill said the announcement was yet another positive for the Hunter.

“When it comes to investment in jobs and clean energy innovation, the Morrison Government is heavily favouring the Hunter region by investing here,” Ms McGill said.

“That’s because we have the tech brilliance, both in our private sector and within the Newcastle University, that I believe, will see our region produce new and improved sources of clean energy, and other innovations.

“This further support from the Morrison Government for our wonderful region provides jobs for us, and for our future generations. It’s just more great news.”

The Morrison Government has awarded $69.9 million in grant funding to build on Australia’s competitive strengths in our domestic composite manufacturing industry.

The Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites (SoMAC) Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) will leverage more than $189.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions from 36 partners to potentially generate $2.1 billion in benefits to our composite industry sector.

Results from this new CRC will contribute to our space, defence and medical industries, generating some 1500 new jobs.

The funding has been provided under Round 23 of the CRC program, which is deliverying $154.4 million in grants to three major business-research partnerships helping to solve major challenges facing Australian industries, generating thousands of new jobs.

The CRC, led by the University of New South Wales, will undertake work with partners that include five other universities and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the CRC would allow our Australian composite manufacturers to gain a competitive edge by encouraging them to modernise and automate.

The CRC will do this by linking Australia’s top composites research institutions with key manufacturers and their supply chains.

“The Morrison Government’s CRC Program is a proven model of industry and research cooperation that has produced impressive commercial results,” Minister Price said.

“The activities of this new CRC has the potential to triple the number of jobs currently available within our national composite industry sector and train more than 100 higher degree candidates.

“This funding complements the Morrison Government’s strong commitment to manufacturing, with this CRC addressing one or more of the National Manufacturing Priorities.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the ability to make things here and do it well was a cornerstone of the Morrison Government’s industry policy.

“Projects like these are vital to strengthening our sovereign manufacturing capability and our plan to continue to grow Australia’s manufacturing sector so that it can be competitive, create jobs and strengthen our economy,” Minister Taylor said.

“One of the key parts of our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is getting science and technology working for industry and for jobs.

“This investment is ensuring we are aligning our research and innovation with our areas of focus, like medical products, defence and clean energy.

“These projects are about manufacturing the products and materials Australians need and the world needs, by making them right here at home.”

Since the Coalition Government came to office in 2013, it has committed more than $1.8 billion to support the establishment of 36 CRCs and 189 CRC Projects.

This has leveraged a further $5.2 billion in cash and in-kind contributions from partners, to develop important new technologies, products and services that help solve major economic, environmental and social challenges facing Australia.

Only the Morrison Government has a plan to deliver a stronger economy and a stronger future for regional Australia.

The CRC Program is competitive and merit-based. For more information visit www.business.gov.au/crc.

Small and medium food and beverage manufacturers across Tasmania are receiving support from the Morrison Government to cut their energy costs so they can invest in their business, employ more locals and get ahead.

Through the food and beverage round of the Energy Efficient Communities program 27 food and beverage businesses across the state have received grants of up to $25,000.

The $635,849 in total funding for Tasmanian businesses will help lower their energy bills and reduce emissions by upgrading to more energy efficient appliances including refrigeration, carrying out energy audits and installing energy monitoring equipment.

The successful recipients include the Devil’s Own Ice Creamery, Meru Foods and Mr Brown and Towns mushrooms in Launceston which will make improvements to their energy efficiency, Giodonda Coffee Roasters in Turners Beach and Belgrove Distillery in Kempton which will make upgrades to their distillation process.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said a key part of supporting Tasmanian businesses to rebound from the pandemic is by reducing overheads like energy.

“Backing manufacturers in Tasmania to get ahead is a key priority of the Morrison Government,” Minister Taylor said.

“The food and beverage industry underpins a stronger Australian economy as the largest manufacturing sector, employing one in four manufacturing workers.

“This is why we are backing them to be more competitive through these grants to lower their power costs, putting more money back in their pockets and supporting the creation of new jobs in Tassie.

“These grants build on more than 2,500 solar and energy savings grants already awarded to community groups and businesses across Australia under the Morrison Government.”

The Energy Efficient Communities Food and Beverage Manufacturing Business Grants program opened in January 2022, for grants of between $10,000 and $25,000 available to food and beverage manufacturing businesses with under 200 employees.

A re-elected Morrison Government will continue to support small and medium businesses cut their energy costs through a new $60 million Powering Business grants program and a $17.9 million expansion to the Business Energy Advice Program.Only the Morrison Government has a plan to create a strong economy and a stronger future for Tasmanians.

A re-elected Morrison Government will boost funding for roads across the Central Coast of New South Wales with a $40 million commitment to improve the safety and quality of local roads.

This additional funding will prioritise local road improvements that increase road quality and safety as well as supporting the Central Coast Council to address the significant maintenance backlog created by recent weather events and the increased traffic movements of a growing region.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government’s record infrastructure investment was supporting residents of the Central Coast, while creating local jobs.

“A strong economy means we continue to improve roads across the Central Coast, helping residents get home sooner and safer,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our record $1.4 billion infrastructure funding for the Central Coast will deliver faster rail from Newcastle to Sydney and upgrades to the Pacific Highway through Wyong Town Centre, creating more than 5,000 jobs.

“Continuing to provide record future funding for road and rail projects across Australia is a key part of our long-term economic plan to keep the economy strong.”

Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said she had worked with local residents and Central Coast Council to identify priority projects that improve safety and address maintenance challenges across the region.

“Better local roads, particularly after the recent storms, is the number one issue raised with me and this funding will upgrade some of our worst roads across the Coast,” Ms Wicks said.

“Upgrading roads such as The Scenic Road through MacMasters Beach, Killcare and Killcare Heights, Rickard Road in Empire Bay and Rabaul Avenue in Umina Beach will make life easier for so many people living on the Central Coast.”

Liberal Candidate for Dobell, Dr. Michael Feneley, said he was delighted that three major problem spots would be upgraded.

“Hue Hue Road at Jilliby, Allison Road at Wyong and Lakeedge Avenue at Berkeley Vale are all in need of urgent work, so this news will be received well by the people of Dobell,” Dr Feneley said.

“Good roads are very important to coasties because we travel further than most other motorists in NSW, and there is nothing more pleasant or comfortable when you are driving, than to hit a patch of smooth new road.

“I know I speak for everyone in Dobell when I say that I’m very grateful that these works will be undertaken quickly.”

Local roads to be improved include:

• Hue Hue Road, Jilliby
• Allison Road, Wyong
• The Scenic Road, MacMasters Beach, Killcare and Killcare Heights
• Davistown Road, Saratoga and Davistown
• Rickard Road, Empire Bay
• Lakedge Avenue, Berkeley Vale
• Peats Ridge Road, Somersby
• Cape Three Points Road, Avoca Beach

Funding will be provided to Central Coast Council to support their works program, including road reconstruction, rehabilitation and resurfacing to improve safety for locals and visitors to the region.

This commitment builds on the Coalition’s strong investment to support infrastructure improvements across the Central Coast, including:

• $1 billion for faster rail between Sydney and Newcastle that that will deliver additional tracks between Tuggerah and Wyong, extra platforms and station upgrades at Wyong and Tuggerah as well as new dual track rail bridges over the Wyong River
• $336 million to upgrade the Pacific Highway through Wyong by duplicating the Highway between Johnson Road and Cutler Drive and replacing the existing Wyong River road bridge with two new road bridges
• $51.2 million to upgrade the Central Coast Highway – Tumbi Road intersection
• more than $86.5 million committed to the Central Coast Roads Package; and
• more than $35 million committed to Central Coast Council under the Roads to Recovery and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure programs.

An Albanese Labor Government will deliver city-changing infrastructure for all Victorians, partnering with the Andrews Government to help build the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL).   The SRL will transform how Victorians move around the state. When complete, this 90km rail line will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport, better connecting Victorians to jobs, retail, education, health services and those they love. 

The SRL will see transport super hubs at Clayton, Broadmeadows and Sunshine, and regional Victorians will be able to get to employment, world-class hospitals and universities in the suburbs – without having to travel through the CBD.  

This is a once in a generation opportunity to reshape the way Victoria grows.  

Given Victoria is expected to grow to 11.2 million people by 2056 and Greater Melbourne to reach around 9 million people – a similar size to London today – this project is needed to keep Victoria moving. 

SRL East will deliver 26km twin tunnels with six underground stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Burwood, Glen Waverley and Box Hill – connecting Victorians to key employment and health precincts across east and south-east Melbourne. 

That is why an Albanese Labor Government will invest an initial $2.2 billion in SRL East over the next five years.

This money won’t go to planning, it will go to SRL East construction.   

The SRL will create 800 early direct jobs during early works for SRL East, which will commence in 2022 and support many thousands as the project enters major construction. 

Anthony Albanese and Dan Andrews know how to get things done. 

While the Morrison Government wastes time and money on imaginary carparks, rejected road projects and picking partisan fights, an Albanese Labor Government will partner with the Dan Andrews Labor Government to deliver the investments that Victorians really need.

Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said:

“Infrastructure like this shapes cities and shapes states.  

“This project will change how Melburnians live and how they interact with their city.  

“I won’t be a Prime Minister that uses infrastructure to play political games, I will be a Prime Minister who invests in the projects that matter.”  

Dan Andrews, Premier of Victoria said:

“The Suburban Rail Loop will change the way we move around the state, slashing travel times and taking more cars off our roads for faster, safer journeys.” 

“We welcome Federal Labor’s contribution to the Suburban Rail Loop, which will support thousands of Victorian jobs in the coming years. It’s a project Victorians voted for – and we’re getting on with it.” 
 

Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said: 

“Coalition Governments talk about building infrastructure, Labor Governments actually get on with it.  

“While the Morrison Government is focused on picking fights with Victorians, an Albanese Labor Government will partner with the state to build the projects that matter.”

More than 300 jobs will be created in Eden-Monaro as a result of an almost $700 million Morrison Government investment in the Australian Defence Force’s operational headquarters, the General John Baker Complex.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the $694.4 million investment to upgrade and expand the complex would support the larger workforce needed to plan and conduct ADF operations in a rapidly deteriorating strategic environment.

The General John Baker Complex is home to the Australian Headquarters Joint Operations Command, which commands and controls ADF operations around the world.

“The first priority of our Government is keep Australians safe and this $700 million investment is about ensuring we are doing that,” Minister Price said.

“This project builds on the Morrison Government’s significant investment in Defence capability and ensures that the men and women of the ADF have the equipment they need to defend the nation.

“Once completed, this facility will accommodate up to 1,400 personnel, almost doubling its current capacity to support the ADF’s response to increasingly complex multi-domain operations, including in cyber, space and humanitarian and disaster relief.

“Only the Liberals can be trusted on national security.

“We know that under the last Labor Government, Defence spending was at its lowest level since 1938, falling to just 1.56 per cent of GDP.

“In their last three years in Government, Labor cut Defence spending by 10.5 per cent in real terms.

“Our Government has increased investment in Defence to more than two per cent of GDP.”

Minister Price said the project would provide significant opportunities for local industry to support the delivery phase of the General John Baker Complex expansion.

“This project is a massive win for local industry,” Minister Price said.

“It supports construction jobs and generates economic stimulus for the local Bungendore, Queanbeyan and Canberra economies.”

Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said the investment was not only a win for Eden-Monaro, but was an important element in strengthening our national security.

“Given the evolution of our strategic environment, now more than ever, we must continue to strengthen our defence capability,” Senator Molan said.

“Successive Labor governments had drastically run our defences down and we cannot afford a Labor government, now of all times.

“Our Government is committed to protecting our nation by equipping the ADF with modern capabilities to best meet future challenges.

“This investment will significantly enhance the ADF’s ability to deploy on a wide range of operations.

“It will also cement Eden-Monaro as one of the most strategically important regions within Australia’s defence system.”

Liberal for Eden-Monaro, Dr Jerry Nockles, said the almost $700 million dollar announcement showed that the Government was taking seriously its commitment to developing investment and jobs in our region.

“The expansion of the Australian Defence Force’s operational headquarters means jobs for local electricians, carpenters, builders, architects, painters and our high tech industries, among others,” Dr Nockles said.

“These 300 jobs will have a multiplier effect for our local Bungendore, Queanbeyan, Palerang, Cooma, and Yass economies, in addition to our region.

“This investment is possible by the Government’s significant commitment to our Defence and jobs creation and is one we need.”

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the works will start in 2023 and be completed by the end of 2025, and include an extension of the current operations building, a new multi-agency collaboration annex and on-site operational accommodation.

The works will be delivered using an existing Public Private Partnership contract arrangement.

Only the Morrison Government has a plan to deliver a strong economy and a stronger future for Australia.

The Morrison Government’s $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is a plan to help Australian manufacturing scale-up, become more competitive and resilient – driving jobs and skills, realising economic growth, and developing new products and services to improve the lives of Australians.

The Morrison Government is investing over $94 million in funding through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative to back 19 Victorian manufacturers to grow their businesses, create more jobs and compete internationally.

Geelong manufacturer Carbon Revolution will receive up to $12 million for their $33 million project to expand its advanced manufacturing of carbon fibre wheels to the global electric vehicle market. This funding will increase their capacity by around 94 per cent, equating to an additional 75,000 carbon-fibre wheels per annum and reduce unit costs by 60 per cent.

This project will position Australia as a leader in the production and export of carbon fibre wheels for the auto sector. This will create significant benefits into the broader local carbon fibre sector, provide better commercialisation pathways for research at Deakin University, and improve the cost effectiveness of production and improve the ability to secure global supply contracts for the growing EV market.

As a result of the Morrison Government’s investment in this project, Carbon Revolution is expected to create and retain over 300 additional skilled manufacturing jobs in Geelong.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emission Reduction Angus Taylor said this funding was a testament to the strength of the manufacturing sector in the state.

“Victoria has long been the centre of Australian manufacturing and remains a key source of revenue and jobs for the Victorian economy. Victorians have been strong and resilient in the face of a number of COVID-19 related lockdowns which posed real challenges to these manufacturers,” Minister Taylor said.

“That’s why we are backing our manufacturers to grow their business, create more jobs, more exports and more investment. The ability to make the things our country needs is a key part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy and a stronger future”

Liberal Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson said only the Morrison Government has a plan to support a strong, flexible and competitive Australian manufacturing sector in Victoria.

“With customers from Ford to Ferrari, Carbon Revolution is producing some of most technically advanced and highest performing wheels on the planet, keeping our region on the modern manufacturing map,” Senator Henderson said.

“Already a global technology powerhouse and major local success story, this $12 million grant from the Morrison Government, will enable sustainable wheel supply to the Global Electric Vehicle Market, driving cleaner technology and creating 323 smart jobs.”

Other recipients that will share in this funding include:

• Wilson Transformers will use its $8.7 million in funding to expand its capability to manufacture HV transformers (key components) to support the growth of renewables and batteries.
• Energys Australia will use $5.3 million in funding to expand the manufacture of its patented hydrogen fuel cell power products (FC Gensets).
• Selectronic Australia will use its $7.1 million in funding to leverage proven Australian IP to develop a best-in-class Australian made ecosystem of physical renewable solar system products.
• Visy Australia will use its $3.6 million in funding to build a new plant for a cardboard-based replacement for extruded polystyrene, the vast bulk of which currently goes to landfill.
• Advanced Recycling Victoria will use its $12 million in funding to develop a global scale advanced recycling facility in Victoria recycling waste plastic into Plasticrude that can be used as feedstock to manufacture new food grade plastics.
• Cablex will use its $4.9 million to manufacture highly complex and bespoke accredited electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) & electronic sub-assemblies to meet the emerging domestic & export demand in the space sector.
• Chobani will use its $3.3 million to accelerate their product development, shelf-life testing program and manufacturing expansion to new products and see export volumes in 2025 reach 5,780 tonnes.
• Patties Foods will use is $4.2 million to build an automated pick and place robotic system to pack its range of Four N Twenty party pies & sausage rolls, increasing throughput to meet growing export demand for ready-made meals.
• H W Greenham & Sons will use its $10 million to install state-of-the-art smart manufacturing equipment to create a new chilled beef processing line capable of processing 600 head of cattle per day.
• D’Orsogna will use its $2 million to install, test and commission a high-tech mincer, massager, slicing & packing line at the Merrifield facility, incorporating cutting-edge technology and increasing the plant capacity by 20 per cent.
• Ballantyne Dairy will use its $4 million to build the first ultra-high temperature (UHT), enzyme modified aseptic dairy flavour concentrate facility to be built in Australia. Ballantyne has collaborated with local dairy experts and engineers to establish the processing specification and equipment design.
• Casella Wines will use its $3 million to establish a modern whiskey distillery to support large scale whiskey manufacture, as well as support expansion of a new cellar door and tourism facility.

The Morrison Government is backing these Victorian businesses to turn good ideas into commercial success stories and build critical capability for the future.

Only the Coalition have a plan to deliver a strong economy and a stronger future for Victoria.

Australia is committed to working with our partners and allies to shine a light on Russia’s ongoing unacceptable activity in cyberspace and condemns Russia’s destructive, disruptive and destabilising cyber activities against Ukraine. Today we join the US and the EU in attributing to the Russian government the following activity:

• Russian military cyber operators have deployed multiple families of destructive wiper malware, including WhisperGate, on Ukrainian government and private sector networks. These disruptive cyber operations began in January 2022 prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Russian government cyber actors have compromised a number of Ukrainian civilian entities since October 2021 that would be involved in crisis response activities, including networks related to emergency services, energy, transport and also communications. We have previously publicly highlighted Russia’s mid-February distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks against certain Ukrainian banking-related services.
• Together with our partners, we assess that Russia launched cyber attacks in late February against commercial satellite communications networks to disrupt Ukrainian command and control during the invasion and those actions had spill-over impacts in other European countries. The activity disabled very small aperture terminals (VSAT) in Ukraine and across Europe. This included tens of thousands of terminals outside of Ukraine that, among other things, support wind turbines and provide internet services to private citizens.

These unacceptable activities are further examples of Moscow’s indiscriminate approach to cyber operations and blatant disregard for the effects of such operations on the public, including through the commercial sector.

In addition to shining a light on Russia’s actions, Australia is committed to imposing costs on state-based or state-sponsored malicious actors who seek to undermine an open, free, safe and secure cyberspace.

Australia does not tolerate activities in cyberspace that are detrimental to international peace and stability and that are contrary to the international framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, which Russia and all members of the international community have agreed to.

Hundreds of Australian soldiers, troops from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) and US Marines have started a major warfighting exercise at Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Running until the 27th of May, Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a trilateral training activity designed to enhance warfighting interoperability, strengthen international relationships and improve combat readiness.

Commander of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, says the combined arms activity will feature infantry live fire and tank integration

“Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a great example of how our regional partners integrate with Australian forces to conduct realistic combat team training for combat operations,” Brigadier Say said. 

“Our combined capability to coordinate ground forces demonstrates adaptability and interoperability that can be applied to disaster relief or warfighting operations.”

Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) Commanding Officer, Colonel Christopher Steele, said Southern Jackaroo builds on past activities and enhances collective strength.

“MRF-D is excited to continue the outstanding tradition of Southern Jackaroo alongside our trusted Australian and Japanese allies,” Colonel Steele said.

“We are looking forward to enhancing our combined interoperability and developing our relationships.”  

JGSDF Training Unit Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryozo Asano said it was a great honour to have the opportunity to participate in a trilateral exercise between Japan, the United States and Australia.

“Considering the current world situation, the trilateral exercise is very significant, and it is very useful for improving the capability of units and all soldiers,” Lieutenant Colonel Asano said.

Exercise Southern Jackaroo will feature around 400 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), 190 from the MRF-D and 70 from the JGSDF.

Up to 2,200 MRF-D personnel will conduct combined training with the ADF this year, with Exercise Southern Jackaroo forming part of a series of warfighting training activities.

The MRF-D is part of the US force posture initiatives which were expanded at AUSMIN 2021 to include enhanced air cooperation, enhanced maritime cooperation, enhance land cooperation and the establishment of a combined logistics, sustainment, and maintenance enterprise.