A new national office is to be established within the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) to lead a national, coordinated approach to strengthening Australia’s rail manufacturing.
Announcing the new Office of National Rail Industry Coordination (ONRIC), Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic said the Office would lead delivery of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan.
“[The Plan] supports the rail industry and skilled manufacturing jobs by ensuring more trains are built in Australia,” Mr Husic said.
“ONRIC will deliver a National Rail Procurement and Manufacturing Strategy, in consultation with State and Territory Governments and rail industry stakeholders,” he said.
“We want to be a country that makes more onshore – and that means backing the businesses that are making things here and supporting manufacturing in regional Australia.”
DISER said the Office would work closely with State and Territory Governments, manufacturers, industry peak bodies, unions and research organisations to implement the Plan.
It said the ONRIC would establish a Rail Industry Innovation Council, appoint a rail supplier advocate and develop the National Rail Procurement and Manufacturing Strategy to support industry productivity and facilitate opportunities for Australian manufacturers.
Mr Husic said the Rail Supplier Advocate would help manufacturers identify procurement and export opportunities, while the Rail Industry Innovation Council would support the rail manufacturing industry.
