The Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to rebuild Australian rail manufacturing and make more rail rolling stock in Australia.
Today, the Assistant Manufacturing Minister, Tim Ayres, will announce the appointment of Ms Jacqui Walters to the role of National Rail Manufacturing Advocate and eight leading experts to the Rail Industry Innovation Council.
The appointments are critical to the National Rail Manufacturing Plan, which aims to deliver a national strategy for the domestic manufacture of high-quality, low- emissions passenger trains.
Rebuilding rail manufacturing in Australia will have spillover economic benefits, particularly for regional communities like Newcastle, Maryborough, Ballarat, Bendigo and Dandenong where we will back secure, blue-collar jobs.
Ms Walters has a track record of successfully leading strategy and change projects across Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
As a former Chair of the Citytrain Response Unit, which has oversight of the transformation of public transport in Queensland, Ms Walters will bring a wealth of experience in the rail sector to the role.
Her leadership experience in the transport sector is complemented by her background in renewable energy and venture capital funding.
She will lead Commonwealth coordination of state and territory procurement of rail rolling stock, helping Australian manufacturers to be competitive in export markets in regional and global supply chains.
Bringing significant expertise from the rail industry, the Council members are:
- Mr Graham Bentley (Aurecon);
- Mr Danny Broad (Australasian Railway Association);
- Ms Vicki Brown (UTS Transport Research Centre Advisory Board);
- Ms Samantha McWilliam (WSP Australia)
- the Hon Rachel Nolan (former Queensland Minister for Transport);
- Professor Ravi Ravitharan (Monash Institute of Railway Technology);
- Ms Katarzyna Stapleton (Queensland Rail) and
- Mr Glenn Thompson (Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union).
As part of the plan, the Government will deliver the National Rail Procurement and Manufacturing Strategy by the end of the year.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Manufacturing, Tim Ayres:
"Australians can make the trains of the future, building long-term industrial capability as well as exporting those products to markets in regional and global supply chains.
"When state governments procure passenger rail projects offshore, like the former NSW Liberal Government did under the former Transport Minister Andrew Constance, it costs thousands of good blue-collar jobs in the regions and trashes Australia's manufacturing capability.
"The Albanese Government is determined to reverse that and deliver more good manufacturing jobs in our regions and outer suburbs.
"I look forward to working with Jacqui Walters and the Council members to implement the Government's vision of supporting thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs and ensuring more of our rail passenger fleets are built in Australia.
"As Advocate, she will work with state and territory governments and stakeholders to pursue a national approach that provides increased opportunities for local businesses and creates more local jobs, particularly in regional Australia."
Quotes attributable to National Rail Manufacturing Advocate, Jacqui Walters:
"I am honoured to be appointed the National Rail Manufacturing Advocate to assist in the implementation of the Government's National Rail Manufacturing Plan.
"I will work closely with the Rail Industry Innovation Council and Assistant Minister Ayres to increase opportunities for local businesses and create more local, good quality jobs.
"I strongly believe there is a future for Australia to become a high-value manufacturing nation.
"Working together we have the opportunity to improve competitiveness, innovation, and growth within the rail manufacturing industry."
