Ministers statements: mRNA workforce training centre
Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, Minister for Employment, Minister for Public Transport) (14:13): Last Thursday was a landmark day for Victoria’s mRNA industry. Together with the Premier we launched a new dedicated mRNA workforce training centre. This will train the future of the mRNA workforce, not only here in Australia, but right across the Asia-Pacific region. The centre will deliver training programs right across all aspects of mRNA production cycles. The Andrews Labor government is investing $10 million in the centre to produce the workforce for the 21st century. As the house would know, mRNA technology delivered the highly successful COVID-19 vaccines. Now the path is set for a new class of vaccines with the potential to eradicate malaria, TB, HIV and cancer. Investments like this, plus the Moderna manufacturing facility in Clayton, will revolutionise how we do medicine and our medical technology in Victoria and right across Australia.
But you do not have to take my word for it, you can take the word of Asher Judah, author of The Australian Century. I am very unfortunately going to quote from this book. This book retails for $22.85 on Amazon, and I got a signed copy for free at my local op shop. I wanted to pay for it, but they would not take any money. I might regift if I need to, but I want to quote Asher Judah, because I think it is right by him. He did a bit of work and he deserves it. Asher says over the decade ahead breakthroughs in areas of biotech and genetics could best be understood as the greatest opportunity of this century. Teana passed the book on. I am happy to pass the book on to Mr Pesutto.