Now the state election is effectively over and both major parties are starting to forget about the lessons learnt from the results, I like our new member for Rockhampton to recall one promise that was made should Labor be successful. It was $30 million for Manufacturing Hubs to be established in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.
I was surprised it was not mentioned in his victory speech despite being the only potential game changer election promise made for the region. Hopefully not because it was not a ‘core promise’ or Cairns and Townsville will get the bulk of the $30M, but being something many may not fully understand the potential it could provide the Rockhampton region, it is deserving more detailed clarification of in the next few days.
In the Queensland Labor Party plan to protect and create manufacturing jobs, it states, “Manufacturing hubs will support the building of knowledge capital throughout the supply chain, skilling of workers, match appropriately-skilled workers to jobs, and help employers grow their manufacturing business in areas of comparative advantage. Employers will be helped to transition employees into new manufacturing jobs. Manufacturing hubs will be developed in consultation with local businesses, industry, unions and universities. The hubs will assist businesses be more productive and achieve best-practice standards. They will also jobmatch unemployed workers and support businesses”.
Says a lot, but what does it really mean? Manufacturing Hubs do need to be explained by the Member of Rockhampton; as to how it will be established, how soon, what are and when will the region see the benefits from it. Hopefully not as long as the Base Hospital car park has taken to get started.
The Labor Party plan does mention how these manufacturing hubs have been established in China and America, and they may provide some idea of what tangible outcomes we can expect. Assuming China’s cheap labour isn’t to be used, I’ll list some of the outcomes America expects from establishing Manufacturing Hubs:
- Send a strong signal that the United States remains fiercely committed to investing in game changing breakthroughs and cultivating an advanced manufacturing ecosystem
- Accelerate the pace of applied research in advanced industries
- Drive down the cost of advanced industries technologies andaccelerate their deployment
- Contribute to workforce development not just at the Ph.D. level but at all levels
- Spawn new, good-paying jobs and industries and aid the nation’s recovery through its huge employment multiplier effects
- Boost exports and enable the United States to compete effectively in global markets, which in turn will ensure a vibrant national economy
Thus, substitute Rockhampton for United States and you can picture how a manufacturing hub has the potential to make a much bigger impact on our region than car parking space. However, a lot of work is needed to achieve outcomes like the above and possibly more than $10M (assuming Rockhampton gets an equal third). This work needs to start now.
Hopefully the CQUni, our development organisations, unions, business groups are already preparing submissions on the focus the Rockhampton manufacturing hub should pursue and our new member of parliament takes a strong leadership role in getting this election promise delivered quickly. Get this right and the Rockhampton region will economically be so much stronger for it.
Let’s have our manufacturing hub established before the next round of state election promises.