Melbourne to get $1.8 billion CSL vaccine factory to respond to future pandemics

A new $1.8 billion vaccine manufacturing plant is set to be built in Melbourne to help secure the nation against future pandemics and flu seasons.

Melbourne is set to become the home of a new hi-tech vaccine manufacturing plant to help secure the nation against future pandemics and flu seasons.

The $1.8 billion deal struck by the federal government will see the Tullamarine complex become the largest influenza manufacturing facility in the southern hemisphere.

The factory will guarantee Australia faster production of locally made influenza, virus and anti-venom treatments until 2036.

Seqirus, a subsidiary of Victorian-based global biopharmaceutical leader CSL, will invest more than $800 million to build the state-of-the-art facility at the Melbourne Airport Business Park, which is expected to be operational by 2026.

The federal government will also contribute $1 billion to secure the facility over the next 10 years and allow Australia to rapidly respond to flu outbreaks and pandemics.

An artist’s impression of the new $1 billion vaccine manufacturing facility to be built in Australia. Picture: Supplied

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited CSL’s Broadmeadows facility in Melbourne’s north on Monday, in his first trip to Victoria since February and the state’s second coronavirus wave.

He described the project, which is expected to create more than 1000 local jobs and is worth an estimated $300 million to local supply chains, as “an absolute game changer”.

“We want to be leaders here. We want to be setting out jobs for many years to come. This facility alone...is a further demonstration of our manufacturing strategy hitting the ground... (while) at the same time building the reputation that we want to have as a country in advanced manufacturing in an area like this,” he said.

Speaking alongside the Mr Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt lauded the plant as putting Australia “right at the global forefront” of vaccine development, while “providing jobs for Victorians and certainty going forward”.

The Victorian government said the factory would be the only cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the southern hemisphere and will also produce other lifesaving products for the Australian market, such as the world’s only Q-Fever vaccine and anti-venom for local snakes, spiders and marine creatures.

Staff at CSL on November 8, which will begin manufacturing AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine from Monday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

It will also have the capacity to rapidly scale up vaccine production in response to any future influenza pandemic and guarantee the nation with a priority supply.

Seqirus general manager Stephen Marlow said CSL had been on the front line of the fight against influenza for more than 100 years.

“We are excited to work with Victoria’s world-class talent to deliver the next generation of influenza vaccine technology to Australia,” he said.

Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews said the investment would not only allow Australia to continue to manufacture the essential vaccines into the future but will also boost high paying manufacturing jobs across a range of skills.

Victorian Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said the investment positions the state as a global leader in cell-based influenza vaccine production and further boosts capabilities in R & D, commercialisation and advanced manufacturing.

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