PM Speaks on Manufacturing Future

28 Oct 11

The Gillard Government has offered $1.2 million of grants to help manufacturers get involved with mining projects.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently visited Perth based advanced manufacturer Hofmann Engineering who amongst their capabilities designs and manufactures components for the mining industry.

"Other sections of the manufacturing sector would do well to look at the track record of Hofmann's who have stayed at the forefront of research and development, meeting customer needs and how they have invested in skills and training," Gillard was quoted in an Australian Report.

Since 1969 Hofmann Engineering have provided specialist engineering services to Australian Industry and have experienced significant growth in recent years with the purchase of Victorian based company Metaltec and then the acquisition of 5 hectares of land and workshops from Thales in Bendigo.

Finer details with respect to the grants are yet to become known and this announcement follows a recent jobs forum in Canberra to address the issue of the headwinds Australian manufacturers are facing with respect to the high dollar, overseas competition and a lack of local content in government and mining projects. At the forum Gillard announced tougher regulations for large projects to list their local content suppliers.

Gillards visit to Hofmann Engineering came off the back of calls from unions and industry to support Australia's manufacturing sector and find a solution to the manufacturing jobs crisis.