The South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has called on the Victorian Government to review supply chain infrastructure and reduce regulatory barriers, arguing that policy reforms are needed to support manufacturing growth and help small and medium-sized manufacturers commercialise innovation.
According to SEMMA, the recommendations were made during its Australian Manufacturing BLUEPRINT forum, EXPAND, which focused on policies to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
The organisation said manufacturers require greater access to government funding, support for the adoption of artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, and reforms to research and development (R&D) programs.
SEMMA CEO Honi Walker said current policies should do more to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which she said employ the majority of Australians.
“A successful manufacturing industry needs government policy that truly backs the SME innovators,” Walker said.
“Those small privately owned businesses that employ 94% of Australians need policies that will assist and enable our manufacturers to adopt AI, automation and robotics to become more efficient.”
Walker also argued that existing reconstruction and innovation programs should place greater emphasis on helping SMEs bring new products to market.
“These industry growth funds need to become channels to fast track products to commercialisation. Currently, only large corporates really benefit. This does nothing for SMEs except discourage them from growing, investing in new equipment and employing more people,” she said.
She further called for reduced red tape and broader access to federal and state funding programs, including the National Reconstruction Fund.
The forum also featured industry and political representatives who discussed manufacturing competitiveness and innovation policy.
Robotics Australia CEO Paul Mason said the organisation’s Robotics Roadmap would continue to be used to guide discussions with government.
“Our Robotics Roadmap is a guidebook for government – we will keep using it as a reference to advise government during this technologically tumultuous time,” Mason said.
Sutton Tools CEO Peter Sutton said Australian manufacturers faced stronger competition from countries with more supportive business environments.
“If we didn’t move some of our manufacturing overseas – we wouldn’t be here now. It’s easier doing business in other countries. There’s a real danger here for manufacturing as other countries offer more business-friendly pathways to innovation and assistance,” Sutton said.
Victorian Shadow Minister for Industry and Manufacturing, AI & Innovation Richard Welch said manufacturing remained important to the state’s economy, while Libertarian MP David Limbrick said policy settings would influence the future competitiveness of Melbourne’s south-east manufacturing region.
SEMMA said the Victorian Minister for Industry and Manufacturing, Colin Brooks, was invited to attend the forum but declined due to prior engagements.
Former federal MP and former Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson also addressed the event, saying Australia should examine successful international policy approaches to better support manufacturers.
SEMMA said the forum concluded with calls for an immediate review of government R&D and innovation funding programs and essential infrastructure to support manufacturing growth.
The organisation’s Australian Manufacturing BLUEPRINT initiative outlines five pillars – Economic, Energy, Expand, Educate and Evolve – with the aim of increasing manufacturing’s contribution to Australia’s economy by 2030.
