By Peter Roberts The Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has made an impassioned commitment to words all too often forgotten in recent years – value adding and fostering Australian ingenuity. In a speech to the Australian Space Forum Husic said a Future Made in Australia would be defined by resilience, prosperity, and unwavering…
Shares in drone detection and countermeasure company DroneShield have continued their downward slide despite the release of the company’s latest quarterly report to shareholders. The company’s shares have been under pressure since earlier this month when a negative media report questioned the valuation of the company, which has been riding high on rapid growth and…
The federal government is significantly expanding the Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program under which defence prime contractors help their suppliers penetrate international defence markets. The number of major defence prime contractors participating in the GSC Program will almost double from seven to 13, delivering on a commitment made in the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS).…
By Peter Roberts Just as the domestic electricity grid is making quick progress towards decarbonisation, so too are industrial processes such as steelmaking. Australia’s two primary steelmakers have taken different courses in moving towards lower carbon iron and steels. The GFG Alliance at Whyalla is moving from reliance on blast furnace technology towards a combination…
Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue has backpedaled on its ambitions in green hydrogen, reorganising the mining and energy company and focusing more on familiar downstream green energy opportunities. The company, which has taken what some observers call a ‘scattergun’ approach to green hydrogen opportunities across the globe, has simplified its corporate structure, merging the mining and energy…
The federal government is fast tracking the development of a Guarantee of Origin scheme which will provide the emissions accounting backbone to support the development of Australia’s green industries. The scheme, a component of the Future Made in Australia programme, will issue digital certificates that allow producers, exporters and users to prove where a product…
By Peter Roberts Pernod Ricard has sold its hugely successful Jacob’s Creek wine brand in a deal with Accolade Wines that will create a new Australian wine giant. Pernod Ricard announced it would merge the Jacob’s Creek business with Australian Wine Holdco Limited which purchased Accolade earlier this year. Australian Wine Holdco Limited is a…
By Peter Roberts This week, did we see an example of the federal government’s new policies to link innovation more directly and speedily to eventual purchase? Or was this the last gasp of Defence’s traditional glacial approach to procurement. These questions loom large in Monday’s announcement that the government would invest over $100 million to…
The private sector owner of the Mt Piper coal fired power station in NSW, EnergyAustralia has confirmed it is pursuing construction of a big battery and pumped hydro power plant at the site. Earmarked by the Coalition as the site for nuclear power stations, Mt Piper’s coal boilers are not planned for retirement until 2040,…
Following their completion of the Officers Nuclear Operator Course and Engineering Administration Course, the first three Royal Australian Navy officers have graduated from the Royal Navy’s Nuclear Reactor Course in the United Kingdom. Lieutenant Commander James, Lieutenant Stephen and Lieutenant Isabella have come to the end of their shore-based requirements as part of the Royal…