Resources Envoy Gets Down to Business

6 Sep 11

Resources Sector Supplier Envoy Peter Beattie has started work to help Australian manufacturers win contracts for major resources projects and create jobs for Australians.

Mr Beattie is holding meetings with key resources and manufacturing stakeholders this week as part of the Gillard Labor Government’s Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative.

Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said Mr Beattie was playing a key role in securing Australia’s manufacturing future and thanked him for beginning his work quickly at the Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) in Sydney today.

“The Government is working to give Australian manufacturing a strong future and helping Australian suppliers benefit from the nation’s major resources projects will help us achieve that,” Senator Carr said.

“The new Resources Sector Supplier Envoy and Resources Sector Supplier Forum will help us spread the opportunities of the mining boom to more Australians and more Australian businesses.”

Enterprise Connect Resources Technology Innovation Centre Director, Peter van Iersel, opened AIMEX today on behalf of Senator Carr. He made special mention of the 90 Enterprise Connect clients at the event who were showcasing their capabilities in the mining technology sector.

Speaking on his new role, Mr Beattie said he was looking forward to working with major resources investors to build on their willingness to lift Australian content in projects and the desire by Australian industry to compete successfully for this work.

“An important element of the Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative is to establish the Forum as quickly as possible and I will be asking industry to suggest suitable candidates,” Mr Beattie said.

The Forum will consider how the resources sector and capable Australian suppliers can work together to improve access and competitiveness. To make submissions for consideration by the Forum, email the Innovation Department (buyaustralian@innovation.gov.au) by 15 October 2011.

For more information on the Resources Sector Supplier Envoy and Forum, please email buyaustralian@innovation.gov.au