Thursday, 18 May 2023

Southern Metropolitan Region

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:48): (185) My question is for the Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty in the other place, Minister Carroll, and I am proud that this side of the house supports advanced manufacturing. This is a $31 billion industry vital to the state’s economy. There are more than 23,000 manufacturing firms in Victoria, which support 260,000 jobs, and they are 30 per cent of our country’s manufacturing output. Our government is providing support through investments like the Breakthrough Victoria Fund, the Manufacturing and Industry Development Fund, the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and the $20 million government initiative to support the growth of medical technology and manufacturing in Victoria. Due to our government’s strong support, global companies like Moderna and CSL are choosing to invest in Australia, so I ask the minister to please provide me an update on the projects currently being supported by the government or private companies to develop advanced manufacturing in the community of Southern Metro.