Ex-Transport minister Andrew Constance questions South Nowra EV plant’s Chinese ties

An ex-transport minister has scrutinised the Minns Government’s decision to use a Beijing-based business to spearhead a new electric bus manufacturing plant on the South Coast, saying builds should be handled on home soil.

An artist impression of the bus plant. Picture: Supplied

Ex-transport minister Andrew Constance has scrutinised the Minns Government’s decision to use a Beijing-based business to spearhead a new electric bus manufacturing plant on the state’s South Coast, saying vehicle builds should be handled on home soil.

Constance, who is the current Liberal candidate for Gilmore, said a quick Google search revealed that Foton Mobility Distribution, based in Beijing, China, was the company leading the proposed South Nowra EV plant.

But Premier Chris Minns has shut down Mr Constance’s concerns, saying the days of “offshoring public transport” were over and that the buses would be built here.

However, Foton produces electric vehicles globally, including within Australia.

“It raises some real questions about how much of these buses are actually going to be assembled in Australia,” Mr Constance told this publication.

“They could be put together in Nowra, but are they using parts that were manufactured in China?”

Former NSW Transport minister, Andrew Constance. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Constance’s concerns follow Thursday’s announcement by current transport minister Jo Haylen and South Coast MP, Liza Butler, that the 6000 sqm electric bus plant in South Nowra has been proposed.

Premier Chris Minns was expected to attend, but was diverted due to an anti-Semitic terror plot uncovered in Sydney.

An artist impression of the bus plant. Picture: Supplied

Ms Haylen and Ms Butler said the plant – pending Shoalhaven Council approval – would produce more than 100 electric buses for Greater Sydney and create 100 Shoalhaven jobs.

“That’s a big boost for NSW manufacturing,” she said.

“We want our local manufacturers and suppliers to have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need.”

Ms Butler called the plant a “fantastic” opportunity for local employment, saying it would help workers upskill and transition to zero-emissions transport.

Transport minister Jo Haylen, joined by South Coast MP, Liza Butler and Gilmore MP, Fiona Phillips, announcing the bus plant in Nowra. Picture: Supplied

Despite Mr Constance’s concerns, Ms Haylen insisted the buses would be assembled in Australia.

“When the Minns Labor Government says we want to build more buses here, we mean it,” she said.

Mr Minns echoed the sentiment, saying the days of “offshoring public transport” were over.

“We’re building these buses here in NSW and creating local jobs and public transport that works,” he said.

“This state of the art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions free world class public transport for the people of our state.”

While suspicious of Foton and its global dealings, Mr Constance did concede local jobs were “a great thing”.

However, he argued the government should prioritise NSW-based companies, like Custom Dennings, the state’s oldest bus manufacture.

Construction on the manufacturing plant is expected to be completed later this year, subject to council approval.

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Originally published as Ex-Transport minister Andrew Constance questions South Nowra EV plant’s Chinese ties