Think tank warns China’s industrial subsidies threaten 73,000 Australian smelting jobs

China’s industrial subsidisation spending now exceeds its defence budget and threatens to devastate Australia’s smelting and refining regions unless urgent government intervention occurs, according to a McKell Institute report released on Wednesday. The think tank warned that 73,000 jobs across regional Australia are at risk from Beijing’s “geoeconomic interference”, with some towns potentially losing up…

Endua secures $4.88m government boost for hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing

Brisbane clean-tech company Endua has secured $4.88 million through the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program to advance its hydrogen electrolyser technology and expand local manufacturing capabilities, according to an announcement on Monday. The funding supports Endua’s AHEAD project (Advanced Hydrogen Electrolyser for Australian Decarbonisation), which focuses on the company’s proprietary PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolyser…

Australian Vanadium secures planning approval for Western Australian processing hub

Australian Vanadium has achieved a key regulatory milestone with planning approval for its vanadium processing facility at Tenindewa, approximately 65 kilometres east of Geraldton, according to an announcement on Sunday. The Western Australian Planning Commission approved the development application for the processing plant, which forms a central component of the company’s integrated vanadium supply chain…

BlueScope leads $115bn international consortium eyeing Whyalla Steelworks

BlueScope has formed a massive international consortium with Japanese, Indian and Korean steelmakers to explore acquiring the troubled Whyalla Steelworks, the company announced on Wednesday. The consortium includes Nippon Steel Corporation, JSW Steel and POSCO, collectively representing $115 billion in market capitalisation and total steelmaking capacity of approximately 130 million tonnes. BlueScope will leverage its…

Applications open for grants up to $50,000 under SA’s Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program

Round 2 of the South Australian government’s Manufacturing Technology Adoption Program (MTAP), offering up to $50,000 in matched funding, is now open for applications. According to an update from the department of state development on Monday, the program aims to help SMEs “to keep pace to remain competitive, enhance productivity, and unlock opportunities for growth”…

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

EPCA Expands into Latin America Mining equipment electrification company EPCA has announced a strategic partnership with Escala Consulting, which will represent EPCA across Mexico and Latin America as the official sales representative for the region. “With established operations in Australia and Mexico, Escala leverages deep regional insight and cross-border industry experience to unlock commercial opportunities…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 28 – August 1, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Bedford forfeits $20m site in bailout deal as new manufacturing hub hangs in balance Disability services provider Bedford Group will surrender land worth more than $20 million as part of its government bailout, whilst the future of its brand new…