By Member for Forde Rowan Holzberger
There’s a lot going on in the world this week.
So, readers may have missed something relatively small, but still extremely significant.
The Albanese Labor Government announced a study into establishing a new oil refinery in Australia.
Thirteen years ago, we had six oil refineries. Today we’re down to just two
Conflict in the Middle East has exposed just how vulnerable Australia is to international supply shocks. It is a lesson we cannot afford to ignore.
And while a study into a new oil refinery is a relatively small investment, it speaks to a much bigger change in direction for Australia.
The investments by the Albanese Government in Whyalla to protect our steel industry, in Gladstone to protect our aluminium industry and in Mount Isa to protect our copper industry all point the same way.
Protecting our foundational industries – the industries that underpin our manufacturing capability – is a very real and absolutely essential change.
Donald Trump’s latest tariffs on Australia only reinforce how important it is that Australia looks after its own national interests.
I believe in free trade, but I don’t believe in unfettered free trade. We compete against countries with state-backed industries. Ignoring that reality doesn’t make us more competitive.
Just as important is rebuilding the other foundations of our economy. Building more public housing matters. Making sure Australians have access to cheap, reliable energy matters.
Affordable housing and affordable energy are not just important for the living standards of Australians. They are foundational to a competitive manufacturing industry.
The secret to Australia’s post-war economic success wasn’t complicated.
We invested in public housing.
We invested in affordable energy.
We built public assets that kept the cost of living down, helped keep pressure off wages and made Australian industry internationally competitive.
Turning around problems that have taken forty years to create won’t happen overnight. But rebuilding public assets is how you rebuild a country.
Whether it’s investing in quantum technology, building more public housing, strengthening our energy system or helping families install home batteries, these are investments that make Australia stronger.
Home batteries are a good example. Public investment has put 3431 home batteries directly into the hands of families across Forde.
