Why Australia urgently needs a climate plan and a Net Zero National Cabinet Committee to implement it

By Tony Wood, Grattan Institute Australia has a legislated target to reduce greenhouse emissions, a federal government with commitments to increase the share of renewable electricity and reduce power prices, and a globally important economic opportunity at its feet. In the second half of the government’s current term, delivery looks hard across the board. All…

Ukraine war: Australian-made cardboard drones used to attack Russian airfield show how innovation is key to modern warfare

By Paul Cureton, Lancaster University Innovative design choices can have a massive impact in the theatre of war, so it is important to understand the principles behind their development. Recent use of low-cost cardboard drones by Ukraine, supplied by Australia, to attack targets in Russia is a good example of how this can work. Australia…

Controversial ‘forever chemicals’ could be phased out in Australia under new restrictions. Here’s what you need to know

By Sarah Wilson, University of Technology Sydney and Rachael Wakefield-Rann, University of Technology Sydney There’s growing global concern about potential risks to human health and the environment from a group of industrial chemicals commonly known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals”. While the full extent of harm from PFAS is still emerging, the fact these chemicals…

IDT’s strong quarter delivers growth

Pharmaceutical manufacturer IDT Australia is seeing a surge in sales as demand for medical cannabis products rises and companies seek out more capable contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMO). The Melbourne company told investors that revenues increased for the fourth quarter, with 4QFY23 revenue up 200 percent on the previous corresponding period to $2.4 million.…

The earth might hold huge stores of natural hydrogen – and prospectors are already scouring South Australia for it

By Linda Stalker, CSIRO Hydrogen comes in an ever-increasing range of colours. Green hydrogen, made by cracking water into oxygen and hydrogen. Blue hydrogen, made from natural gas with the carbon emissions captured and stored. Grey hydrogen, using natural gas with carbon dioxide emissions released to the atmosphere. But there’s one type few people have…

@AuManufacturing’s Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers – what we learned

When @AuManufacturing and the Australian Manufacturing Forum embarked on a quest to identify and celebrate Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers, we weren’t sure what we would find. Well, we have been overwhelmed with nominations from many companies we report on regularly, and from many we had only ever heard about but had never heard from…

Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers revealed

@AuManufacturing and the Australian Manufacturing Forum’s quest to identify Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers is over. Editor Brent Balinski hosted a breakfast event in the Melbourne industrial heartland of Clayton this morning which saw the whole list revealed. As we planned, 50 Australian manufacturers were inducted into @AuManufacturing’s inaugural Top 50, with another 24 forcing…