Editorial April issue NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz

In late March, the Minister for Manufacturing, Andrew Bayly, spent a week in Australia,  where he met with four ministers in the Australian Federal Government, including Senator Hon Tim Ayres, the Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Assistant Minister for Trade.

They discussed opportunities that exist for our two countries to work together, to grow manufacturing productivity on both sides of the Tasman.

He also met with Maria Vamvakinou MP and Scott Buchholz MP, who co-chair the Parliamentary Friends of Manufacturing group in the Australian Parliament. This provides a non-partisan forum for parliamentarians to meet and interact with businesses, unions, industry and advocacy groups to help support and strengthen Australia’s manufacturing industry.

Andrew Bayley also joined up with a delegation of manufacturing business leaders from New Zealand keen to get a better understanding of emerging advancements in research in Australia, particularly how they relate to advanced manufacturing, and how these could be transferred to industry here in NZ.

Meanwhile, In Australia,  it has been announced that the Albanese Government intends to create a Future Made in Australia Act. To spur investment in clean energy technologies and secure economic opportunity and growth for Australia.

The minister at work.

Australian investment in R&D has reached a 30-year low, only spending 1.68% of GDP on R&D. Meanwhile, competitors are growing their R&D spending, with the USA, Japan, Germany and many other developed countries spending over 3% of their GDP on R&D each year.

Australia needs an immediate and sustained increase in R&D funding to make sure Australia doesn’t get left behind.

Australian research and innovation will be the driving force behind their future prosperity. Australia cannot afford to neglect R&D any longer.

Which, of course, brings me back to our situation in New Zealand. Andrew Bayly says he will help, where possible, to facilitate access to the latest technologies being deployed internationally, as New Zealand looks to explore international market opportunities, as well as ensuring domestic manufacturing is well supported.

–Doug  Green, Publisher