Opposition leader Anthony Albanese outlined a 10 point Buy Australian vision at a NSW Labor conference on the weekend – in this excerpt from his speech, he outlines his plan.
“Today I announce the next development in our plan for a Future Made in Australia.
Taxpayer funded procurements across Government have been worth $200 billion over the last 3 years.
The way in which Governments use their purchasing power reflects how they view the Government’s role in shaping the economy.
Today I announce Labor’s 10 point Buy Australian Plan.
This plan will ensure that the Australian Government is backing Australian workers and Australian businesses.
As consumers, Australians often hear the words – think global, buy local.
Australians do their best to patronise local businesses, knowing our hard earned money supports the wages of our friends, neighbours and local community.
The pandemic has seen this emphasised in our cities and towns.
Governments should recognise this principle in its own purchases and activities.
Under the Buy Australian Act maximising the benefit of Government purchases will be the law of the land.
Labor will establish a Future Made in Australia office within the Department of Finance to drive a whole of Government approach.
The Finance Minister and Minister for Industry will lead a Cabinet sub-committee on procurement.
Labor will provide opportunities for mid and small tier Australian companies to participate in the infrastructure pipeline helping to build and strengthen our sovereign capability.
This will be done by packaging tenders where appropriate, into multiple packages that allow smaller companies to bid for them.
Labor will maximise small business participation in Commonwealth procurement.
We will introduce a secure Australian jobs code which will guide Commonwealth engagement to ensure taxpayers money is used to secure employment.
Labor will strengthen the requirement for companies to declare whether they are paying their fair share of tax in Australia including disclosure of any use of tax havens as part of their financial arrangements.
Labor will ensure there are more opportunities for owned and operated First Nations businesses.
In Government Labor will develop ‘Future Made in Australia Industry Plans’ in areas including textile, clothing and footwear; digital, innovation and start-ups; paper, pulp and fibre and renewables component manufacture.
Labor will also leverage Commonwealth investments for job creation and emissions reduction.
We will have a Defence Industry Development Strategy to maximise local content.
We will work with states and territories to ensure that the $20 billion provided annually through National Partnership Agreements is consistent with a national agreement on a Future Made in Australia.
Before the election we will be making further announcements about how Australian jobs will be supported by Labor’s Buy Australian Plan.
Together these plans will ensure that Australia’s capacity to manufacture essential goods in areas including health, energy, infrastructure, defence and space and communications is increased and that we are more resilient as a nation.”
This is an excerpt from a speech delivered by opposition leader Anthony Albanese to the NSW Labor State Cconference, Saturday, 9 OCTOBER 2021.
Picture: Anthony Albanese
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