The Australian Workers’ Union has strongly endorsed the passing of the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024, describing it as a historic step that positions Australia to become a global leader in new energy and advanced manufacturing.
The Bill establishes production tax credits that will catalyse private investment at the speed and scale required to develop green hydrogen and critical minerals industries in Australia.
AWU ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Secretary Paul Farrow said the legislation would help unlock the nation’s immense potential in critical minerals processing and green hydrogen production — industries that will be critical to Australia’s economic and strategic future.
“Australia’s approach to critical minerals and new energy has been constrained by a ‘dig and ship’ mentality, and this Bill tips that on its head,” Mr Farrow said.
“This Bill finally provides what industry has been crying out for: investment certainty to move beyond raw exports and build up our domestic processing and manufacturing capabilities. It will create thousands of high-quality jobs, particularly in regional Australia, and ensure future generations of Australian workers benefit from the global industrial shift.
“If this Bill is successful in paving the way to reliable, large-scale green hydrogen supply that would be a game-changer for the nation because it would unlock green steel and green aluminium which would be transformative for the Australian economy.
“The ‘community benefit rules’ embedded in this legislation are critical, because they ensure the jobs created will be high-quality positions with good pay and secure conditions. Unlike the approach taken in the past, this Bill ensures Australian workers and their communities will share fairly in the gains of Australia’s industrial transition.”
The AWU has been a long-time advocate for securing Australia’s sovereign industrial capability, warning that the concentration of global supply chains—particularly in China—poses a strategic risk for the nation.
“Australia has the whip hand here and this Bill allows us to crack it,” Mr Farrow said.
“It will help Australia build resilience and safeguard against the risk of being cut out of critical supply chains. Australia has some of the world’s richest reserves of critical minerals, yet we’ve allowed overseas interests to dominate refining and processing. This legislation will reverse that trend and keep more value—and more jobs—onshore.”
Mr Farrow criticised the Coalition’s decision to vote against the legislation, calling it a betrayal of Australia’s industrial future.
“The Coalition’s decision to vote against this Bill speaks volumes. It’s entirely in line with their broader hostility to Australian workers and their industries,” he said.
“At a time when the world is racing ahead in clean energy and critical minerals investment, the Coalition would rather Australia sit on the sidelines. They would apparently rather see Australian jobs go offshore than support the policies needed to develop world-leading industries here.”
Mr Farrow said the AWU would continue working to ensure the implementation of the Bill delivers for Australian workers.
“The passing of this Bill is a major step forward, but we need to make sure it’s implemented in a way that maximises Australian jobs and industrial development. The AWU will be holding government and industry to account on that.”
