Parliamentary inquiry report into advanced manufacturing in Australia

Written by Dr Melinda Laundon, Australian Cobotics Centre Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at QUT.

The COVID-19 pandemic and international trade shocks in recent years highlighted the need for Australia to enhance its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Advanced manufacturing, utilising Industry 4.0 technologies and processes, offers significant opportunities and advantages which can be harnessed by targeted Government policies and support.??

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources recently published the report of its inquiry into developing advanced manufacturing in Australia. The inquiry, which took place during 2023, held five public hearings and attracted more than 60 submissions from advanced manufacturing stakeholders from industry, education, academia, business peak bodies and worker associations.?

The report, Sovereign, smart, sustainable: Driving advanced manufacturing in Australia, includes ten recommendations aimed to increase Australia’s global competitiveness in advanced manufacturing by enhancing industry-research collaboration, access to investment capital, R&D commercialisation, and addressing skills shortages and worker shortages.?

The recommendations include:?

• Establishing a National Advanced Manufacturing Commissioner??
• Introducing production incentives for Australian advanced manufacturing?
• Increased government investment in common user advanced manufacturing facilities and innovation precincts??
• Reviewing, identifying and upscaling successful education and training programs to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies?
• Considering visa and permanent residency pathways for specialist advanced manufacturing workers?
• Developing a national strategy to attract and retain under-represented groups (including women) to advanced manufacturing careers.?

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The academics and industry partners of the Australian Cobotics Centre participated in the inquiry by making a written submission, giving evidence at a public hearing, and participating in a committee visit to the ARM Hub.??

The Cobotics Centre’s submission and evidence to the Brisbane public hearing in July 2023 was cited in the following sections of the report:??

• That advanced manufacturing relies on an increasingly sophisticated integration of people and technology.?
• That advanced manufacturing requires education and training that fosters the integration of traditional trade skills with digital capabilities.?

• That there is a need for improved government support for SMEs to make the transition to advanced manufacturing including through support for technology adoption and R&D.?
• That SMEs need additional support to protect against cybersecurity risks.?
• That cobots offer potential for increasing workforce diversity and longevity.?

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The Australian Cobotics Centre was also profiled as one of four examples of effective university-industry collaboration to support advanced manufacturing.?

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