The federal government yesterday released the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing road map which shows how businesses can capitalise on Australia’s access to resources, which will be needed to manufacture many new technologies.
Applications under the government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative also opened yesterday to help manufacturers scale-up production, commercialise products and tap into global supply chains.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was focused on continuing to rebuild and grow the economy, with manufacturing playing a key role in the COVID-19 recovery.
“Yesterday’s national accounts showed the comeback of the Australian economy is well underway and manufacturing businesses and jobs will be central to our National Economic Recovery Plan as we build back from the COVID-19 recession,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is at the heart of our JobMaker plan and it’s focused on growing our entire manufacturing sector.
“This roadmap will support jobs across Australia, particularly in our resource rich regions like the Hunter, Western Australia and Central Queensland.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the new roadmap set out a 10-year vision to build sophisticated manufacturing capability in Australia in the resources sector.
“Opportunities outlined in the Roadmap include turning critical minerals into high value products like batteries and solar cells, as well as technologies and equipment that makes mining more efficient and safe,” Andrews said.
Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA welcomed support for more jobs and investment in advanced manufacturing.
AMMA chief executive Steve Knott said the roadmap provides a strong platform to attract more investment into the critical minerals sector, to support local advanced manufacturing, and most importantly to help create thousands of new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) related jobs.
He said critical minerals, such as those used in the latest battery and renewable energy technologies, is an area of huge growth potential for Australia.
“Department of Industry data shows there are more than 20 critical minerals projects that are either already committed or advanced in planning, in our major project pipeline. AMMA forecasts these projects will create at least 2700 new jobs in the next five years,” Knott said.
“Further, there are more than 50 additional prospective projects, less advanced in the pipeline, that could see that jobs figure tripled if those opportunities could be converted to committed investment.
“The majority of these new employment opportunities will be in the form of high-quality, highly paid STEM jobs. Collaboration between government and industry in initiatives to attract investment and nurture future STEM skills development, is vital to our success.”