5 years ago
RENEWABLE BIOCOMMODITIES PILOT PLANT
SENATOR KIM CARR
A Shorten Labor Government will make a $10 million co-investment to expand the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant so it can process a wider range of municipal and industrial waste feedstocks.
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government which will invest in the jobs and industries of the future, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.
Enhancing the plant’s capability will allow for new fermentation, separation and product purification technologies, and develop new product types, including green chemicals and biotechnology products.
In 2010 the Federal and State Labor Governments established the pilot plant, and once again it will be a Labor Government that will back the plant's expansion.
Australia has the potential to be a world leader in industrial biomanufacturing and the research and development that goes with that in the agricultural sector.
This facility will mean Australian and international firms can test end-to-end production runs for new products; giving them the confidence to establish manufacturing plants near their feedstock supply chains in agricultural centres throughout Central and North Queensland, with the potential for many hundreds of new jobs.
Analysis by Deloitte Access Economic has found the biorefinery industries in Queensland alone could create over 6,500 jobs in coastal regional communities and add almost $2 billion per year to the State’s economy.
This project highlights the alliance we need to forge between blue collar and white coat to build an advanced industrial system for the 21st Century.
Labor will also support this project with our comprehensive and coordinated plan to support local manufacturing firms and jobs, including:
- Lifting research and development investment to 3 per cent of GDP per annum by 2030, making sure manufacturing has the best scientific and research expertise available.
- Supporting firms to innovate and grow through our $1 billion Advanced Manufacturing Future Fund.
- A $25 million food and fibre industry strategy to drive local jobs and innovation, as well as attract investment in manufacturing, particularly in rural and regional areas.
- Safeguarding Australian jobs in sugar, steel, aluminium and other industries vulnerable to trade attack by strengthening the Anti-Dumping Commission.
- Encouraging business to invest in this country through the Australian Investment Guarantee, with local businesses benefiting from a new accelerated depreciation scheme for new capital assets.
- Implementing a Local Projects, Local Jobsplan that will see more government procurement and investment in major projects spent on local businesses and local jobs.
- Establishing sector plans like Labor’s Red Meat Industry Strategy, Steel Industry Plan and a National Rail Manufacturing Plan to lift productivity, promote sustainable profitability for producers and processors, and secure regional jobs.
- Ensuring business gets the support it needs through our network of supplier advocates, innovation councils, Enterprise Connect and the Industry Capability Networks.
- Ending the Liberals’ war on science and returning science to the centre of government by resetting the relationship between government and Australia’s scientists and researchers.
- Investing $1 billion to boost TAFE, apprenticeships and skills including scrapping upfront fees for 100,000 TAFE students who choose to learn the skills that Australia needs to become a modern advanced manufacturing economy.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for increased investment and jobs in Australian manufacturing and science, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos, our united and experienced Labor team is ready to deliver a fair go for all Australians.