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Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding with a new investment prospectus, The City of Ipswich Space to Grow.

Ipswich primed to be Queensland’s manufacturing and defence capital

Ipswich is positioned to be the manufacturing and defence capital of Queensland with an 8,000-hectare future supply of industrial land. With the largest area of land earmarked as developable for commercial and industrial purposes than any other city in South East Queensland, Ipswich City Council has outlined its competitive advantages in a new investment prospectus, The City of Ipswich: Space to Grow. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the city is uniquely positioned to attract advanced manufacturing, defence, production, innovation and logistics. “Ipswich is in a prime position to help bring manufacturing back to Queensland and Australia,” Mayor Harding said. “As a proven location for industry to thrive, Ipswich is HQ to operations of companies including Goodman Group, Coles, Suntory Oceania, JBS, Rheinmetall, L’Oréal Groupe, Australia Post, FedEx, TAE Aerospace, Visy, CHEP, Sunny Queen, Bombadier, DB Schenker and Bapcor. Officeworks and Asahi are also building large-scale facilities in Ipswich. “Manufacturing and defence are our city’s biggest industries, contributing about 60 per cent of our $8 billion in annual exports, and we are hungry more of this type of investment. “With a potential industrial land supply of 7,923 hectares – a supply bigger than that of all other South East Queensland local government areas combined – we have space planned for new commercial and industrial centres. “The region overall is facing challenges when it comes to industrial land supply, with Brisbane predicted to run out in a matter of a few years. “Ipswich stands ready to cater for the land requirements of a range of industries. Our city has a proud history of manufacturing and it remains one of the largest employers of any industry in our city. “We want to ensure Ipswich is the manufacturing and defence capital of Queensland, so that investment flows through our economy and leads to job […]

Climate disclosures: what manufacturers need to focus on now

Martin Fryer, Head of Strategy and Disclosures, thinkstep-anz Climate risk is now a financial reporting issue. The Australian Sustainability Reporting Standard (AASB) S2 Climate-related Disclosures asks organisations to explain how climate-related risks and opportunities could affect their business performance and future plans. For manufacturers in Group 2 and 3, this means preparing to disclose information that is decision-useful for investors, lenders and regulators. The focus is on understanding where climate could affect the business, and how those impacts are reflected in financial outcomes and strategic planning. Who needs to report when: Reporting group Reporting starts First report due (FY) Thresholds (meet 2 of 3) Group 1 From 1 January 2025 After 30 June 2026 $500m revenue, $1b assets, 500 employees Group 2 From 1 July 2026 After 30 June 2027 $200m revenue, $500m assets, 250 employees Group 3 From 1 July 2027 After 30 June 2028 $50m revenue, $25m assets, 100 employees Find additional information here What AASB S2 is asking organisations to do At its core, AASB S2 connects climate with enterprise value. It is built around one key question: Would this information matter to someone making a financial decision about the business? To answer that, organisations need to: identify climate-related risks and opportunities assess which ones are significant explain how they affect the business and financial outcomes show how they are being managed. The AASB’s recently released educational material offers a few practical points: Materiality requires judgement Organisations need to assess which climate issues are significant enough to influence decisions by users of their financial reports. This involves both qualitative and quantitative considerations. Link to financial outcomes It is not enough to describe risks. You need to show how they affect revenue, costs or asset values. Transparency builds credibility Clear disclosure of assumptions, ranges and limitations is encouraged. […]

Australia secures trade deal with EU

After 8 years of negotiations, Australia has secured a landmark trade deal with the European Union, the world’s second largest economy. The Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers between Australia and the European Union – a market of around 450 million people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr Maroš Šefčovič announced the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement today which, together with the Australia-EU Security and Defence partnership, is a key aspect of our growing strategic relationship. The deal will strengthen our economic and strategic partnership; demonstrate our mutual commitment to open and rules-based trade; and diversify our trade – bolstering Australia’s competitiveness, growth and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global trade environment. The trade agreement will result in 98 per cent of the current value of Australia’s exports entering the European Union duty free. Australian farmers and producers will benefit from the elimination of almost all European Union tariffs on agricultural products. This includes wine, nuts, fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, most dairy products, wheat and barley, and seafood. For example, Australian wine producers and exporters will benefit to the tune of around $37 million annually with the removal of European Union import tariffs. For other important agricultural products, the agreement delivers commercially meaningful access through new or expanded tariff rate quota volumes, including for beef, sheep meat, sugar, rice, wheat gluten, skimmed milk powder and natural butter. The removal of most Australian tariffs on imports from the EU will make things like European wine, spirits, biscuits, chocolates and pasta cheaper at Aussie checkouts. Farmers and businesses will also benefit from […]

ChameleCo and SpacePort Australia create space education opportunities and facilities

The Chameleon Consulting Firm, based in the United States, https://www.chameleco.com/ and SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd have joined forces to conduct a feasibility study focused on integrating STEM training pathways, including practical spaceflight crew training and space environment orientation facilities. As humanity advances toward sustained space exploration and eventual colonization, the profile of space travelers will extend beyond traditional astronauts. Future exploration-class space missions (ECSMs) and extraterrestrial settlements will require a wide range of professionals, each needing training to operate and survive in space environments. With a focus on preparing the next generations for human spaceflight, Ms. Ambericent Cornett, CEO of The Chameleon Consulting Firm LLC, is developing practical training and acclimatisation models. Ms. Cornett brings multidisciplinary expertise spanning military intelligence operations, cybersecurity and technical program management, and public health as an infectious disease epidemiologist, complemented by leadership experience in fraud operations and advanced academic research as a quantum PhD candidate. SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd (SPA) is an ongoing initiative with over 16 years of development, including eight years of formalized operations (www.SpaceportAustralia.com.au). Dr. Gabrielle M. Caswell, Founder and CEO of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd (SPA), established the organisation as an independent research hub prior to the formation of the Australian Space Agency. The organisation supports innovative research in space medicine, human performance, and biological and operational liveability in microgravity and space environments. Dr. Caswell serves in a rare practitioner-scholar capacity and is uniquely positioned as the only female working clinician to own and operate a spaceport. Both organisations share a mutual focus on education, research, and infrastructure development, with a commitment to creating practical and accessible pathways for individuals to pursue careers in the space sector. Ms. Cornett stated, “This partnership is mutually beneficial. We are aligned in addressing the challenges that space environments present to human survival. Success will […]

GDM Fast-Tracks Cashflow at Challenger Gold Mine

Great Divide Mining Ltd has moved to accelerate near-term cash generation at its wholly owned Challenger Gold Mine in Adelong, NSW, utilising historical mullock stockpiles on site for initial process plant feed. The mullock provides a low-cost and immediate production feed as commissioning works continue. The priority mullock sites — Currajong, Great Victoria/Annetts/Research, Donkey Hill and Radcliffe/O’Briens — comprise stockpiles ranging from 10,500 to 35,000 tonnes at average gold grades between 1.38g/t and 1.6g/t. “The mullock sits at surface, eliminating drilling and conventional mining costs, with short off-road haulage distances to the upgraded Challenger processing plant,” said CEO Justin Haines. “Seizing this opportunity materially strengthens the Company’s restart strategy,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity we look for at historic goldfields. The material is already mined, it’s sitting at surface, and at grades higher than some operating hard-rock mines,” Mr. Haines continued. “With record gold prices and minimal recovery costs, mullock processing provides a straightforward pathway to early cashflow while we continue ramp-up activities across the broader Challenger site,” he said Local contractor L.A. Broome Contracting will mobilise within two to three weeks to commence haulage of mullock to the ROM pad, ensuring consistent plant feed as commissioning progresses. GDM is taking a “treat-all” strategy to the mullock to maximise gold recovery. Challenger, part of GDM’s 70km² Adelong Project, is being recommissioned under a staged “crawl-walk-run” restart plan designed to establish commercial production while expanding operational capacity. “Cleaning up the mullock onsite is a win for the environment as well,” said Haines.

Swisslog “Ready for the Next” at Retail Fulfilment Show 2026

Swisslog will be showcasing the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) Swisslog, a global leader in automated intralogistics solutions, will showcase its agile automation and software solutions at the 2026 Retail Fulfilment Show from 18-19 March at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Retail Fulfilment Show brings together retail and supply chain leaders seeking innovative solutions to improve fulfilment speed, scalability, and operational performance. Swisslog will be exhibiting at Stand 31 where it will share its “Ready for the Next” message to Australian and New Zealand retailers and e-commerce businesses. The stand will highlight the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) and the power of integrated warehouse software. Next-level automation for Australian retailers As retail and e-commerce operations continue to face rising customer expectations, labour pressures, and increasing SKU complexity, flexible and high-performance automation has become critical. At the event, Swisslog will demonstrate how its expertise in designing and delivering AutoStore systems – enhanced by its proprietary SynQ software – helps retailers unlock higher throughput, maximise storage density and future-proof their fulfilment operations. “Retailers and e-commerce businesses need solutions that can evolve as quickly as their customers’ expectations,” said Steve Dimitrovski, Director of Sales, Swisslog Australia and New Zealand, who will be at the Swisslog stand, ready to discuss future-focused automation. “‘Ready for the Next’ reflects our commitment to delivering automation strategies that scale with growth, adapt to change, and provide long-term operational resilience.” Staying in-SynQ Swisslog will also be showcasing its proprietary SynQ software which is designed to sit at the heart of automated intralogistics, bringing together warehouse management, execution, material flow, and automation control into one unified platform. Built to orchestrate people, processes, and robotics across complex retail operations, SynQ connects inbound receiving through to order fulfilment and dispatch. The platform leverages real-time data, […]

Program launched to get more women working in manufacturing in Queensland

A new campaign has been launched to encourage more women into manufacturing as Queensland faces a critical skills shortage in the $28.9 billion sector. Ahead of International Women’s Day, Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) wants women and girls to know they have a critical role to play in building Queensland’s future and there are numerous job opportunities available to them. MSQ has created the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program which showcases women who are building successful careers in manufacturing by working in jobs ranging from boilermakers and engineers to rocket designers. MSQ Acting CEO Kris McCue said it is important for women to see other women working in manufacturing because ‘if you see it, you can be it’. “Some workplaces are now seeing increased female participation, and that’s the trend we want to accelerate across the entire manufacturing sector.” The influencers will be visiting schools across Queensland and speaking at community forums and industry events to inspire the next generation, promote MSQ’s training and mentoring programs, and campaign for more women in manufacturing. Influencer Rebecca Linwood works at a leading rail and transit systems business in Maryborough and is known as the ‘safety lady’. “At our facility, more than 10 per cent of the workforce are women, working across boiler making, fitter and turner, safety, finance, purchasing, design and engineering,” Ms Linwood said. “Manufacturing can be fast-paced, exciting, and something you can be proud of. You can be yourself and still play an integral role in making manufacturing happen.” Around 170,000 people work in manufacturing across Queensland. MSQ delivers targeted workforce development programs to support manufacturers in building capability and addressing critical skills gaps across the sector. Creative technologist Steph Piper is based at the University of Southern Queensland and runs the Library Makerspace where students learn about manufacturing skills like 3D […]

The Interview: Shayne De la Force, Managing Partner & CEO LFI

Tell readers what LFI does? LFI Asia Pacific Pty Ltd is a quantum technology leadership firm. We work with industrial manufacturers to help them understand and navigate the economic consequences of quantum technology before those consequences become problems they can’t easily solve. We’re not a quantum technology company. We don’t sell hardware or software. What we provide is embedded leadership, working inside organisations as a virtual ‘Chief Quantum Officer’ function to give them the strategic clarity and structured preparation they need without the cost of a full-time quantum executive. Our clients are industrials in sectors like mining and resources, defence supply chain, advanced manufacturing, and energy which are the kinds of businesses that are already being affected by quantum-driven changes in their markets, even if they don’t yet recognise it as a quantum issue. Why have you chosen Newcastle, Australia as your Asia-Pacific base? It came down to what the region actually produces. Newcastle and the Hunter Valley anchor some of Australia’s most significant industrial sectors being coal and resources, defence manufacturing connected to the Hunter class frigate programme, advanced manufacturing, and energy. These are exactly the sectors where the economic pressure from quantum technology is becoming measurable first. When defence and aerospace primes begin flowing quantum readiness requirements down their supply chains, Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturers in those sectors will need to respond quickly. We wanted to be embedded in the industrial geography where that pressure will land, not in a capital city at arm’s length from it. Newcastle also has the infrastructure of a serious city with the industrial density of a region that still makes things. That combination is rare, and it’s exactly where we need to be. Where do you see areas of growth for the company? The clearest near-term growth is in […]

Star Electrical and Fuji SMBE Macquarie deliver resilient power infrastructure to $835m John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct

Fuji SMBE Macquarie supplied hundreds of switchboards with customised functions to Star Electrical, the lead contractor for the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct The NSW Government’s $835 million redevelopment of the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct (JHHIP) is one of the most significant healthcare infrastructure projects underway in the state. As one of NSW’s busiest hospital campuses – home to a major emergency department and critical acute services – the precinct demands electrical infrastructure that delivers exceptional reliability, safety, and long-term performance. Lead electrical contractor Star Electrical was responsible for sourcing switchboards capable of supporting continuous hospital operations, while also meeting strict compliance, delivery, and budget requirements across the multi-year project. “We chose to source all switchboards for the JHHIP project from Fuji SMBE Macquarie because we consider them a tier-one board builder that can deliver high-quality product at scale, within tight timeframes,” says Robbie Peel, Project Manager – Construction at Star Electrical, which brings more than 60 years’ experience across complex electrical installations. All switchboards supplied by Fuji SMBE Macquarie were manufactured and assembled in Australia and designed and verified in accordance with AS/NZS 61439. In total, the scope included approximately 14 large low-voltage main switchboards and more than 130 miscellaneous distribution boards installed throughout the eight-level facility. “AS/NZS 61439 mandates rigorous design verification to ensure safety, reliability, and performance,” Peel explains. “For a major government healthcare project of this importance, compliance with the standard was essential.” The primary equipment supplied was a commercial low-voltage main switchboard (LV MSB), used for the distribution, control, and protection of electrical power throughout the facility. The switchboards supply downstream distribution boards and final subcircuits while supporting safe operation, coordinated protection, and maintainability within a high-fault-level environment. Designed specifically for healthcare applications, the switchboards incorporated formed construction, fully type-tested switchgear, […]

300 per cent boost to clean, green energy uptake will see surge in lifting and shifting of specialist machinery

As Australia presses the button on accelerated conversion to clean, green energy, more industrial plants, resources sites and commercial buildings will face lift, shift and placement issues for the specialist machinery involved. As the move to clean, green electrical energy accelerates to meet Australia’s 2030 emissions deadlines, huge quantities of heavy new electrical plant will need to be safely and delicately lifted, shifted and positioned within confined places. New turbines, generators, transformers, switchboards, charging infrastructure, batteries, and emergency backup plant – some of which weighing 50-100 tons or more – will be needed at transport and logistics facilities, industrial and social infrastructure construction projects, factories, food and beverage process plants, warehouses, and mining, gas and energy projects. “Australia faces a huge increase in new electrical plant capacity over the next decade, with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasting a near tripling of total generation and storage capacity by 2035 to reach 190 gigawatts (GW), up from 82 GW currently,” says Australian actuation, isolation and suspension specialist Air Springs Supply. “This massive expansion of new energy inputs is driven by the retirement of coal-fired power stations (90% expected to close by 2035), increasing electricity demand from electrification of transport and industry, and the national target of 82% renewable energy by 2030,” says Air Springs Supply Technical Product Manager Vinh Lam. The boost in electrical energy generation will in turn lead to a surge in demand for new plant and infrastructure across industrial and commercial developments, both in space-efficient new development and repurposing of limited space within existing facilities. Preparing for heavy lifts involved inside factories, workshops, and materials processing plants can pose accessibility and safety challenge in confined spaces, especially where overhead cranes are impractical. Low-profile Pronal CLT lifting cushions set up to safely and gently raise a heavy load. Big new […]

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