The Government today announced the politically motivated $34.4 million Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative to provide Australian suppliers with have a better chance of benefiting from the nation’s major resources projects. These major resources projects can provide significant opportunities for Australian suppliers. Unfortunately, some suppliers have been missing out because of established global vendor lists and the trend toward pre assembled modules. The Government’s stated objective for this initiative is to spread the opportunities of the mining boom to more Australians and more Australian businesses.
Australian manufacturers and service providers have proved to the Government that they can compete and collaborate with the world’s best. This new initiative will ensure they know where the opportunities are so the benefits of the resources boom can be spread across the country.
New Enterprise Connect Business Advisers will work directly with small companies to help them grow as suppliers to the resources sector. They will partner with new industry Supplier Advocates to embed Australian business in the resources sector supply chains. Through the Industry Capability Network (ICN), specialist advisers will work with the procurement teams of major projects like the Woodside Browse LNG development in Western Australia, the INPEX Ichthys project in Northern Territory, and LNG projects in Queensland.
Increased funding of $1 million per annum will expand the reach of the ICN’s vital work, making it easier and cheaper for buyers and suppliers to do business. To coordinate these activities I will establish a Resources Sector Supplier Advisory Forum and appoint a Resources Sector Supplier Envoy in consultation with the Minister for Resources and Energy. The Forum will include representatives from major resources companies, unions, manufacturers and resources technology services firms. The Envoy’s role will be to champion Australian industry participation in the resources sector.