The South Australian Government has announced the release of a support program geared towards assisting Australian Automotive suppliers adopt to change.
Automotive Suppliers will be able to access assistance to diversify into other sectors with the $20 million Automotive Diversification Programme, which opened to applications yesterday.
The Automotive Diversification Programme is part of the Australian Government’s $155 million Growth Fund to drive development into new industries before the end of local car manufacturing, which is set for 2017.
Australian Minister for Industry, Ian Macfarlane, believes the Australian Government is determined to ensure a strong, long-term future for Australian manufacturing.
“With the Victorian and South Australian Governments, we are maximising opportunities for automotive supply chain firms affected by the closure of local automotive manufacturing,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“Supply chain firms can access the Automotive Diversification Programme to shift their focus towards the high growth industries of the future. This initiative will help to ensure that these firms continue to operate in Australia beyond 2017.”
Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett, has revealed that the automotive supply chain is an important part of the Victorian economy, with a majority of the supply chain based in the state.
“This sector has significant capabilities, knowledge and proficiency in advanced and precision manufacturing techniques that are both relevant and transferable to other industrie,” he said.
Mr Hodgett, believes the programme is about transitioning firms away from their dependence on automotive manufacturing.
South Australian Minister for Automotive Transformation, Manufacturing and Innovation, Susan Close, said automotive suppliers in Australia faced big challenges in the years ahead.
“This programme will enable firms to take advantage of their considerable capabilities and adapt to different industries. It will help firms diversify by supporting R&D, re-tooling, commercialising new ideas, expanding their businesses, or to develop export capabilities by matching business contributions on a one-to-one basis,” Ms Close said.
The Automotive Diversification Programme opened for application yesterday and will run over four years, ending in 2017–18, with at least one application round per year.
More information and application forms are available from: business.gov.au
