The federal Government will back Australian industry participation in NASA Moon and Mars missions with a $150 million investment. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, agreed to the investment, to be made through the Australian Space Agency, during his recent trip to the United States. The Agency will help companies demonstrate their capabilities in projects that…
The Victorian government has called on rail industry manufacturers to put forward ideas for its next generation trains and trams. The government, which has a policy of at least 50 per cent local content in its public transport rolling stock, is planning new generation rolling stock under its strategy, Trains, Trams, Jobs 2015-2025. The new…
Milk and infant formula producer Bellamy’s Australia (ASX: BAL) has reacted favourably to a $1.5 billion takeover offer launched from the fast-growing China market. The company’s board was unanimous in recommending shareholders vote in favour of a $13.25 per share deal, comprised of $12.65 in cash and a 60 cents per share dividend. Shares in…
The South Australian Government has declared a rocket launch site proposed for the lower Eyre Peninsula to be a state significant project. The declaration boosts the hopes of Southern Launch, which is developing the Whalers Way launch site on the coast near Port Lincoln. Suited to launching polar satellites south over the ocean, the site…
Analysis by Peter Roberts This week saw the extraordinary spectacle of an Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, threatening exporters and telling them to cut back on exports. For Morrison to warn alumina producers Rio Tinto and Alcoa to cut back on exports to the United States was strange enough, but the reason for it was…
Australia may not yet manufacture lithum ion batteries in any quantities but companies continue to make progress tackling various parts of the production process. This week Altech Chemicals (ASX:ATC) was invited to construct a high purity alumina (HPA) plant in the German state of Saxony. The company, which is completing a similar plant in Malaysia,…
The Australian Industry Group has attacked Canberra’s ‘big stick’ energy legislation as heavy handed, excessively dangerous and counter-productive. Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said the government’s bill went far beyond recommendations made by the ACCC inquiring into the energy market, and established new powers never before given the government. Willox said: “The so-called ‘big…
Diversified brick manufacturer, Brickworks (ASX:: BKW) has defied a downturn in local construction and housing to post a record net underlying profit after tax (NPAT) of $234 million. The Sydney company booked revenue up 17 per cent for the 2019 year to $919 million, and an EBIT of $346 million up 12 per cent, according…
The federal government has pledged $3 million to deepen Australian co-operative research with the United States on unmanned defence systems. Defence industry, Melissa Price announced what is seed funding to the University of Melbourne, Macquarie University, the University of NSW and Queensland University of Technology. The funding is under the AUSMURI programme, a sister programme…
Comment by Peter Roberts Australia’s business boardrooms need to get serious about innovation, with few recognising the urgent need to prioritise innovation, acording to a new report from the Australian Institute for Company Directors (AICD). Given the current realities of Australian manufacturing, this is a comment that should be taken on board even more urgently…
