资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency of a comprehensive and consistent policy agenda to encourage investment, innovation and productivity across all industries. Growth and efficiency gains realised in one sector will flow on to its customers and suppliers. In particular, a competitive and expanding mining industry is conducive to efficient and advanced manufacturing.

First, Australian mining produces commodities that are indispensable to modern life, such as iron ore and metallurgical coal for steel, aluminium for aeroplanes and vehicles, zinc for galvanising steel, copper for computer circuitry and electric cars, nickel for stainless steel and batteries, rare earth elements for permanent magnets and medical devices, lithium for lightweight batteries, thermal coal and uranium for electricity, gold for aerospace and advanced medicine, and silver for telecommunications and solar panels. Demand for these commodities is expected to accelerate.

Second, Australian mining has a strong record of processing minerals and metals. Established operations across Australia refine bauxite into alumina; smelt alumina into aluminium; assay, refine and mint gold and silver; and process, smelt and refine copper, zinc, nickel and other base metals. A suite of minerals and metals, and the processes necessary to mine, concentrate, refine and process them into useable components, are increasingly important for the technologies needed for modern industry, including addressing the global challenges of climate change, energy, communications, defence, automation, transport and computing. Accordingly, recent projects have included the production of rare earth concentrates and the development of a lithium hydroxide processing plant.

Third, Australian mining is a world-leader in developing and adapting transformative technologies, including automated trucks, trains and drills, drones, remotely operated vehicles and robotic process automations to perform repetitive tasks. The application of technology continues to augment and reshape mining roles, delivering better health and safety outcomes as well as higher productivity.

Fourth, the resources industry’s high-tech operations are directly providing 256,000 highly paid, highly skilled and secure jobs across Australia. They are also driving demand for skills and expertise from multiple fields, such as data analytics, robotics and artificial intelligence. The MCA’s Mining Skills Organisation Pilot, which will evolve into an industry cluster model for skills and training, is demonstrating the benefits of industry-led skills development backed by government and learners.

Fifth, Australian mining supports a vibrant mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector. According to Deloitte Access Economics, the mining and METS sector contributed approximately $242 billion to the national economy in 2019-20, or 12.4 per cent of gross domestic product. Further, the mining and METS sector directly employs 480,000 people, indirectly employs 650,000 through purchases from other sectors, and in total supports 1.1 million jobs, or 10.8 per cent of national employment.

The success of Australia’s minerals processing and METS activities shows that manufacturing can and should be safe, responsible, efficient, commercially competitive and technologically advanced. Policies to promote a profitable and sustainable manufacturing sector should complement and enhance Australia’s comparative advantage in minerals exports and competitive advantage in METS. Governments should be prudent when investing or supporting firms in markets.

Business success in the next decade will be more dependent than ever on the efficiency of the entire export supply chain, from research, exploration, mine or plant development, production, transport and final shipment. Policies that attract investment, improve cost competitiveness, encourage innovation and productivity and allow enterprises to adapt quickly to changing conditions are essential if Australia is to unlock its growth potential across all industries.

A more productive and dynamic economy benefits all Australians. The Centre for International Economics estimates that implementing a modest productivity reform agenda would make households $11,700 better off in 2030 and boost real wages by $130 a week per worker.

Read the full submission:

MCA submission to Senate Economics References Committee inquiry into Australian manufacturing industry 10 Sept 2021.pdf

MCA submission to Senate Economics References Committee inquiry into Australian manufacturing industry 10 Sept 2021.pdf