LNP promises an extra $15m to support Queensland manufacturers

The LNP has moved to sure up its support among Darling Downs manufacturers by promising an extra $15m to help expand their operations.

Talking about the need for a manufacturing hub in Toowoomba are Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki, Nanango MP Deb Frecklington, Tuff Australia chief executive Anton Griffith and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.

 

The LNP has pledged to establish a manufacturing hub in Toowoomba if it wins government, promising businesses easier access to state and federal grants, and networking opportunities.

Opposition manufacturing spokeswoman and Nanango MP Deb Frecklington made the announcement during a visit to Tuff Australia’s bullbar workshop at Torrington on Thursday.

“Manufacturing hubs enable local businesses to work together to encourage and support powerhouse regions like Toowoomba,” she said.

“It is only LNP that plans to expands that manufacturing hubs here in Queensland, ensuring that industry, business, government can collaborate and work together to increase manufacturing, to address threats such as cyber security, to ensure there is workforce planning and to ensure there are pathways for junior manufacturers to come up through the system.”

The policy includes an extra $10m for the hubs, along with an extra $5m for the ‘Made in Queensland’ grants to cover capital expenses for business.

Tuff chief executive Anton Griffith had been unsuccessful in applying for those grants in the past and said the process would have been easier if he had access to the expertise through the hubs.

“In other regional areas where there are hubs already, it’s been proven to be beneficial to growth,” he said.

Talking about the need for a manufacturing hub in Toowoomba are Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki, Nanango MP Deb Frecklington, Tuff Australia CEO Anton Griffith and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.

“Apart from having access to specific grants that are only accessed through the manufacturing hubs, it would also enable the manufacturers already in Toowoomba to work collectively to train staff, retain staff and create more opportunities for advanced manufacturing.

“Winning grants can be pretty difficult from the paperwork point of view, we know how to build bullbars but we don’t know how to write grants.”

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise has been lobbying for the Queensland government to establish a manufacturing hub in the Garden City for several years.

TSBE chairman John McVeigh said Toowoomba had been left behind.

“This gives us an opportunity to enjoy the same benefits that exist elsewhere,” he said.

“For Tuff Group or others such as Boeing who are promising advanced manufacturing, it’s very important they have the opportunity to network, to share information, to talk about labour and other issues that they need to support their businesses development in the future.

“We have more than 600 manufacturers currently employing well over 6500 people. That is a significant part of our local economy.”

While TSBE and Tuff Australia welcomed the annoucment, Labor Manufacturing Minister, Glenn Butcher said it was old news.

“A bit like their health plan earlier this week, the LNP have just copied our homework – saying they like the idea of the initiatives we created like the Manufacturing Hubs, Made in Queensland grants, and the Manufacturing Hub Grants,” he said.

“But scratch the surface and it’s clear the LNP are planning to cut manufacturing support in Queensland.

“As Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington promised to cut manufacturing support by $26m. And now she’s doing it again.”

Mr Butcher pointed to $240m the goverment spend on the Made in Queensland Grants.

“In the Toowoomba region alone manufacturers have received over $3m in grant funding creating and supporting over 290 jobs,” Mr Butcher said.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.