Australian Manufacturing Forum member viewpoint by Kris Gale With the world attempting to come to grips with the COVID-19 situation, it’s hard to find too many opportunities for good news but recent discussion regarding the R&D Tax Incentive is one of them. As reported in @AuManufacturing news, the Senate Economics Legislation Committee (the Committee) is…
Hearing technology company Cochlear has announced a massive $850 million capital raising to fortify the company to weather the Covid-19 coronavirus slowdown in sales. The company’s shares went into a trading halt today as the company revealed a share placement to institutions and a share purchase plan for existing shareholders. The raising is prices at…
The Industry Capability Network has stepped up to the plate setting up a forum where manufacturers can find information about government requirements as they tackle the spread of Covid-19. The following Requests for Information and Expressions of Interest are currently open: # The Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has released a…
By Peter Roberts Just when manufacturing SMEs are really doing it tough there is anecdotal evidence that the Australian Tax Office is coming down hard on the struggling sector. Two industry representative groups report anecdotal evidence of formerly accommodating tax office staff changing their attitude in the past week…for the worse. “One minute it was…
Apprenticeship statistics are showing mixed messages with some good and bad news, but the bottom line is the year to 30 September, 2019 was yet another year in which apprenticeship commencements fell. This was the fifth year of steady decline (see graphic above) according to figures from the National Centre for Vocational and Education Research…
Poker machine and gaming manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology has joined others in the gambling industry in announcing a big hit from the effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The Sydney company said that the virus had caused a large number of gaming and hospitality venues to close or seek to reduce visitation. “As a result the…
Australian businesses are gearing up capacity to boost the output of breathing ventilators which are crucial to the survival of those worst-hit by the coronavirus. From existing manufacturers such as sleep apnea business ResMed to those new to the field such as vehicle engineer Holden Special Vehicles, manufacturers are heeding the call. ResMed, which has…
CBA bank’s latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) shows a massive plunge in economic activity and confidence. The March 20 index, which surveys 800 Australian companies in the manufacturing and service sectors, dropped from 49.0 to 40.7, the steepest reduction since data collection began in 2016. The survey measures how output, orders, jobs, delivery times and…
Manufacturers have stepped up production of one of the key products needed to stem the spread of the coronavirus – hand sanitiser. Actually a very simple product, sanitiser such as Ego Pharmaceuticals Aquium nonetheless has a long supply chain that begins with a basic raw material, ethanol. Manildra Group is Australia’s leading producer of ethanol…
Australian Manufacturing Forum member viewpoint by Kris Gale Rock and roll fans might recognise the source material of the headline quote. It is The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – Roger Daltrey giving voice to the entrenched frustration Pete Townshend utilised to drive that band to greater and greater heights. And so it is with…
