government

Fears are growing that Alcoa will shut the Point Henry aluminium smelter near Geelong and hundreds of workers will lose their jobs.

Abbott government will be good for business and getting rid of the carbon tax will help the industry.

The co-founder of all-terrain vehicle company Tomcar, which has sold all 100 of its first run of vehicles, has said that the start-up felt an absence of government support due to its unconventional business model.

The Government has released its Manufacturing Taskforce report, which has a five point policy designed to get the manufacturing industry moving again.

Government needs to address manufacturing’s labour challenges through supporting skills develop and collaboration rather than pushing for a bottom line on rights and conditions, says AMWU.

Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food regulation last week bowed to lobbying from processed food manufacturers and agreed to permit them to market products with general level health claims without requiring pre-market or independent verification.

The recent loss of 440 manufacturing jobs at Ford Australia has generated a lot of debate about the long-term viability of the Australian car industry, and manufacturing in general.

The Victorian coalition government is urging the federal government to back its commitment of $4 million for a new program to support investment in the Geelong region.

Last week, Ford Australia announced that it would be cutting 400 jobs, which will be split between plants in Melbourne’s north and Geelong. Paul Bastian, the national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) called it a “kick in the guts” for employees and their families, while workers themselves were in a state of shock.

The carbon tax has made its ugly entrance onto Australia’s economic landscape and is rightly hogging all the headlines, however we can be quietly confident that when Tony Abbott takes over the reins in Canberra the insidious tax will become history.

While the unpopular carbon tax comes into force this month it is linked to some good news in the form of the generous $800m CleanTechnology Investment Program (CTIP) specifically for Australian manufacturers.

John Brumby has been appointed to investigate the feasibility of setting-up a Commonwealth agency to tackle anti-dumping.

An Australian Industry (Ai) Group survey marking the start of the carbon tax has found a big proportion (42%) of businesses across the manufacturing, services and construction sectors will try to put up their prices immediately following the introduction of the scheme on 1 July.

At a time when Australia’s manufacturing industry is facing significant challenges, the recent opening of ANCA Group’s new facility in Bayswater North, Melbourne highlights a real success story.

Western Sydney food manufacturer Crafty Chef will reportedly reduce its carbon emissions by more than 50% through a factory upgrade and new freezer system designed to bring massive energy savings.

Over 100 representatives from industry, government and the community gathered in Brisbane this week to discuss tactics to develop a more resilient economy.

Eleven businesses have each nabbed a share of $8.1 million in funding to help them improve production efficiency in preparation for the carbon tax.

The government’s decision to delay the purchase of 12 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) by two years could harm a number of Australian manufacturers involved in supply contracts for the US-based project.

Next month sees the introduction of one of most absurd taxes in Australia; one that will damage our industry and lower our standard of living for absolutely no benefit to the environment.

PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register), which commenced January this year, will help buyers check that the used goods they are buying, like a car, boat or machinery – almost anything except real estate – doesn’t have a security interest over it.