Peak body slams government’s decision to mothball the Australian Battery Industrialisation Centre

The LNP government’s decision to walk away from its commitment to co-fund a battery industrialisation centre has been slammed as a backward step.

The state government has walked away from co-funding a battery innovation precinct.

A peak industry group has slammed the state government’s decision to walk away from co-funding the Australian Battery Industrialisation Centre as a backward step and ultimately harms the progress of what is a critical industry.

The ABIC – a project that was to be jointly funded by the Queensland and Commonwealth governments – was a national-scale, open-access battery industrialisation facility designed to accelerate commercialisation of battery technology in Australia and provide much needed local battery testing and certification services directed to public safety.

Advanced Materials and Battery Council chief executive Quentin Hill says the project was critical for the future of the industry that the project in Queensland proceeds.

“Queensland is currently a leader in Australia’s growing battery sector,” he says.

“The industry needs this ABIC to fully realise our future potential in battery manufacturing. Industry growth will be constrained without this critical infrastructure.

“Our abundance of critical minerals, world class material scientists and the electrification of everything means Australia has the potential to be a major global player in battery technology,

but we need this technology infrastructure to grow the industry at this critical time.”

Advanced Materials and Battery Council chief executive Quentin Hill.

The $105m state funding for the proposed Australian Battery Industrialisation Centre was pledged in 2022 by the former Labor Queensland government and was to be matched by federal Labor, through its National Battery Strategy.

However, a spokesman for Queensland’s new LNP deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie says the decision not to progress with the ABIC was made because of the “uncertainty” around the Federal Government’s commitment.

It also did not align with the Department of State Development focus of three priority industries – defence, biomedical and biofuels – which was in line with election commitments.

Hill says the AMBC is looking forward to continuing to work with government to make the ABIC a reality.

“The AMBC believes delivery of an ABIC can be expedited using our local capability, building on the work done by Batteries Queensland and learning from overseas experience to create an ABIC that government and industry can have confidence in,” he says.

Mega site

Trask Land has snapped up a 5.05ha development site in Brisbane’s rapidly expanding northern corridor.

Earmarked for a residential subdivision, the site at 74-80 Nairn Rd, Morayfield, attracted strong interest from developers keen to secure scarce residential land.

It was sold by Colliers’ Brendan Hogan and Adam Rubie, on behalf of a private landholder.

Trask Land already controls adjoining land on both sides of the site, and the $8m purchase further strengthening the group’s long-term position in the high-growth Morayfield precinct.

An aerial of 74-80 Nairn Rd, Morayfield, which was bought by Trask Land for $8m.

Looking good

Brisbane Open House returns on the weekend with its largest program in five years.

The free annual event invites the public to explore more than 90 buildings, places, and spaces across Greater Brisbane — from heritage landmarks and award-winning architecture to rarely-seen private homes.

The 2025 program features new additions including behind-the-scenes experiences at Brisbane Airport and Wivenhoe Dam, exclusive access to 10 architect-designed private residences.

Buildings include the home of 4ZZZ in the valley, Albert St Uniting Church, All Saints Parish of Brisbane and Brisbane City Hall.

Visitors can also enjoy guided walking tours, insightful talks and musical performances throughout the weekend.

Originally published as Peak body slams government’s decision to mothball the Australian Battery Industrialisation Centre