Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr have announced the membership of the government’s new Manufacturing Taskforce at the Future Jobs Forum.
The new high-level taskforce will map out a shared vision for the future of Australia’s manufacturing sector and help strengthen local firms as they adapt to changes in our economy, including the rise of Asia.
The Prime Minister will personally chair this taskforce, with Minister Carr as deputy chair. Because this is a whole-of-government task, a number of other senior ministers will work on the taskforce.
Membership of the new group will also include manufacturing industry leaders, academics and unions.
Senator Kim Carr said the new taskforce would help ensure manufacturing remains a key part of our economy for generations to come.
It will identify a plan for how best to leverage existing efforts, including government policies and programs, to best capture the opportunities and respond to the challenges facing manufacturing.
The taskforce will meet for the first time in November 2011.