Albanese government backs advanced manufacturing

The Albanese Labor Government is giving a boost to advanced manufacturing by supporting the expansion of the Factory of the Future in Adelaide.

Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, has announced that funding of $10.1 million will be in the Budget to help Flinders University grow the facility, located at the Tonsley Innovation District.

Husic said the Factory of the Future would work with more than 200 small-to-medium enterprises to build their technological capabilities and help them gain a foothold in critical supply chains.

“We are delivering on our election commitment to support the Factory of the Future, delivered for Adelaide and local manufacturing,” he said.

“We want Australia to be a country that makes things both now and well into the future.”

He explained that the state-of-the art facility will help develop a dedicated workforce to bridge skills gaps in digital and advanced manufacturing technologies.

It is estimated that more than 100 students a year from Flinders University will benefit from the Factory of the Future.

“We need to build strategic industry capability and strengthen our ability to harness technologies to future proof our prosperity and national wellbeing,” Minister Husic said.

“This investment will foster economic growth by helping create new jobs in emerging industries.”

The facility will be co-funded by investment by the South Australian Government and Flinders University. Federal funding is over three years.

South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Dr Susan Close MP, said: “I’m delighted to see the $10 million committed by the Albanese Labor Government for the expansion of the Factory of the Future come to fruition.

“This in addition to the $4 million the Malinauskas government is providing for the new manufacturing growth accelerator at the Factory of the Future, honouring a key election commitment to bolster capacity in the state’s local manufacturing sector.

“The combined funding will help small-to-medium South Australian businesses access major defence programs and other manufacturing projects and enterprises.”

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling thanked the Government for its future-focused investment.

“The Factory of the Future is Australia’s first industrial-scale high-value manufacturing research and accelerator facility. The Federal Government’s support will help to realise the full potential of the Factory of the Future to boost sovereign capacity through manufacturing growth, more jobs and stronger exports.

“Alongside visionary initiatives like our Diploma of Digital Technologies to upskill the future workforce, the foundations are being strengthened for South Australia’s revitalisation as an advanced manufacturing state.”

Advanced manufacturing is a priority for the Albanese Labor Government. Our Future Made in Australia policy means investing in a future for all Australians, including through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.

Source: The Hon Ed Husic MP media release