Canberra has launched a comprehensive space strategy outlining national priorities and regulatory reform needed create a viable local industry sector. The 10-year Australian Civil Space Strategy was launched as part of the 2019 federal budget. The head of the Australian Space Agency, Megan Clarke said the strategy laid the foundations for a local industry including…
By Angela Skujins South Australian company Micro-X has signed a contract with Thales Group to develop its mobile X-ray products for security purposes. Under a new contract with the global company, Adelaide-based Micro-X will develop multiple image processing systems for defence and security purposes. Micro-X manufactures carbon nanotube X-ray systems that are portable and adaptable…
Analysis by Peter Roberts The early 2019 federal budget coming only weeks before an election was always going to be a political document aimed squarely at swinging voters in marginal seats. So manufacturing was not expecting much, but even so a number of unkind cuts make this a damaging document to several of the government’s…
Chemicals, fertiliser and explosives manufacturer, Incitec Pivot (ASX: IPL) has reported big hits to its profits from a number of weather-related events and the closure of its Portland, Victoria super phosphate factory. The closure costs, along with drought in eastern Australia and cyclonic floods in the Townsville region, were outlined in a report to the…
Internet of things (IoT) nanosatellite company, Myriota has demonstrated its low cost connectivity at an international military science event. The Adelaide company took part in the Contested Urban Environment 2018 (CUE18) challenge in Montreal along with the Australian government’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) group. The event, involving 250 scientists from Canada, New Zealand, the…
For a century Australian businesses bemoaned the tyranny of distance that left us with poor prospects far from the world’s biggest markets. Today’s chart, from Visual Capitalist, brings home with a vengeance the newfound power of our location in the thick of the world’s fastest growing economies. In answers any questions you may have about…
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has delivered scathing criticism of Defence’s sustainment programme for some of the country’s most important naval assets. The office’s report found sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of eight ANZAC class frigates was not meeting most of its key performance indicators. The ANZACs service life has been extended…
It is not every day that you see an Australian made super car debuting at the world’s most important industrial trade fair. But Brabham Automotive is displaying its BT62 limited edition, mid-engined track car at this year’s Hannover Messe. Commercial director, Dan Marks says: “At just 972kg our designers and engineers have produced a world…
Peak industrial employer group, the Ai Group is taking a strong stand behind today’s flexible workplace laws and against proposals for a new ‘living wage’for low-paid workers. In a series of policy papers just released Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox argues for the status quo on workplace relations and the role of the independent…
Comment by Peter Roberts It is that time of the political cycle again. In the countdown to any election you expect a flurry of announcements, re-announcements and just plain noise from those that occupy the ministerial benches in Canberra. Their department and agency PR practitioners churn out daily, or more than daily, announcements of their…
