News

Engineers Australia and other professional bodies have welcomed a National Competition Council (NCC) finding that a national licensing scheme could improve workforce mobility and reduce regulatory barriers for engineers.

Manufacturing and other industries facing workforce shortages need a stable and efficient skilled migration system, according to the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), which has called for reforms to improve visa processing and skills recognition.

The Queensland Government has awarded  $12.5 million in grants to 18 manufacturers to support advanced manufacturing equipment, productivity and local jobs, with 11 recipients based in regional Queensland.

Volgren’s Eagle Farm facility has expanded its manufacturing capability over the past 17 years, with the Queensland site now producing a range of conventional and zero-emission buses for transport programs across the state and Australia. 

SunRice has sought up to $15 million in Commonwealth funding for a proposed rice-cake manufacturing investment in the Riverina, with the Australian Government saying it is prepared to consider co-investment alongside the company.

Container Exchange (COEX) has appointed Trevor Evans as its new Chief Executive Officer, following his eight-month tenure as Interim CEO.

Australian aluminium extruder and distributor Capral has reported higher earnings for the first half of 2026, with sales volumes and revenue increasing despite softer residential construction demand and higher costs linked to supply disruptions.

The Australian Government has committed $120 million through the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) to support a pilot advanced manufacturing facility for housing construction in Neerabup, Western Australia, as part of a broader $240 million investment involving government and private-sector partners.

Construction has begun on the Alcoa-Sojitz Gallium Recovery Project in Western Australia, with the Australian Government describing the development as a step towards strengthening domestic manufacturing and critical minerals supply chains.

Manufacturing apprentice and engineering enrolments have remained largely stagnant over the past three years, prompting the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) to warn that the sector could face continuing skills shortages.