On 20 January 2022, SEMMA CEO Vonda Fenwick and President Peter Angelico met with the Minister for Industry Angus Taylor MP, and Liberal Candidates Robbie Beaton and Sharn Coombes. After a guided tour of SEMMA member Jayco’s site they moved on to visit the ABECK Group in Dandenong South and spent an hour and a half with Peter, Vonda and SEMMA Board member Michael Harrod of the McKinna Group.
Photo courtesy of Sharn Coombes
SEMMA were able to directly address many of our members concerns with the Minister, and discuss how the manufacturing industry in Melbourne’s vibrant south east can be further strengthened.
The discussions were wide ranging and included the critical areas of skill shortages across manufacturing; education and training; the need for robust local content policy; enforcement of product quality standards to prevent cheap/dangerous imports competing with locally produced materials; support for R&D; the beneficial impacts of Government policies such as instant asset write off; the need for an Australia-wide programme to communicate the wonderful opportunities for worthwhile careers in manufacturing.
We also stressed the importance of our manufacturing SME’s given the tendency for current Government policy to focus on “favourite” sectors and large companies.
Photo courtesy of Sharn Coombes
SEMMA is proud to celebrate our diverse manufacturing members and represent their interests at both a State and Federal Government level. At every opportunity we strive to amplify your voices and put manufacturers first.
