Australia needs to back itself
By Rob Williamson, President of the Gladstone Engineering Alliance and Managing Director of Alpha HPA. I had the opportunity to join business leaders from across Australia at an Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event in Sydney last week alongside Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres. The conversation focused on Australia’s industrial future, how we remain globally competitive, attract investment and build the industries that will underpin our economy for decades to come. It’s an important conversation because the world isn’t standing still. Supply chains are being redrawn, investment is becoming increasingly competitive and countries around the world are moving quickly to secure the industries that will drive future economic growth. Despite that, I believe Australia has every reason to be confident to meet this moment. We have world-class natural resources, outstanding research capability, highly skilled people and a reputation as one of the world’s most trusted trading partners. More importantly, we have the capability to do far more than simply export raw materials. We have the opportunity to manufacture the high-value products the world increasingly demands. But potential doesn’t become prosperity on its own. It requires businesses prepared to innovate, pragmatic governments prepared to provide internationally competitive policy settings, investors prepared to back long-term opportunities and industries willing to work together. It also requires us to recognise where Australia’s strengths already exist and continue building on them. From where I sit, Gladstone is one of those strengths. As President of the Gladstone Engineering Alliance, I see every day both the opportunities ahead and the practical challenges of turning vision into investment. I also see the capability that exists across our region. More than 100 engineering and industrial businesses make up the GEA membership, employing thousands of people who design, fabricate, build, maintain and operate some of Australia’s most significant […]
