Peak professional body Engineers Australia has today welcomed the Government's newly sworn in Cabinet and Ministry and congratulates Senator the Honourable Tim Ayres on his appointment as Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science.
CEO Romilly Madew AO said Engineers Australia was looking forward to continuing to provide informed, independent expert advice to the Albanese Government and is pleased the government has indicated it will continue to focus on economic resilience, growth and prosperity.
"Engineers Australia welcomes the appointment of the new Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres. Together we can contribute to driving the competitiveness of Australian industry and innovation, and the positive impact that can have for all Australians, including boosting our industrial capability with real world applications and nurturing fulfilling STEM careers," said Ms Madew. "We are also pleased to recognise the appointment of Dr Andrew Charlton MP as the Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy." "One of the ways prosperity and innovation could be grown further is by the appointment of a National Chief Engineer to provide strategic, technical and risk advice on the nation building projects that we know the Albanese Government will be looking to deliver over its term."
"The re-elected Government has the chance to deliver on its commitments for housing, energy, and a 'Future made in Australia', but it should strongly consider appointing a Chief Engineer to ensure the long-term vision is expertly informed and guided."
"Now is the time to reverse the trend of declining engineering expertise within the public service. If we want to propel productivity growth, access to the best advice is an effective way to ensure national goals can be met or even exceeded."
The public sector engineering workforce has shrunk by 40 per cent over four decades, diminishing its capacity to effectively scope technical tenders and to evaluate the risks of projects, resulting in cost blowouts and inefficiencies.
Engineers Australia's newly appointed Chief Engineer, Katherine Richards AM CSC, said the Albanese Government has a significant opportunity to deliver for Australians and has outlined major forward-looking projects which would benefit from the guidance of a Chief Engineer.
"There is a $213 billion infrastructure pipeline through to 2027-28, and the $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia agenda aimed at stimulating private sector manufacturing investment over the next decade," said Ms Richards.
"As well as working towards the target of 82 per cent renewables on the grid, there is also a $60 billion industry over the next 30-50 years in the decommissioning of the offshore oil and gas infrastructure as it approaches the end of its life."
"These priorities require informed expertise within government which can provide frank advice on practical implementation, the risks involved, the harnessing of new technologies, and how our national systems interact and rely on each other."
The call for a National Chief Engineer is one of four practical solutions championed by Engineers Australia in its recent Engineering Tomorrow report. Engineers Australia is also asking the Albanese Government to:
- set a target of 60,000 additional engineering graduates over the next decade
- outline a timetable to implement the 11 recommendations of the Pathways to Diversity in STEM review
- and consider an industry-informed 'engineering surge' plan to address critical workforce challenges in Australia's engineering skills pipeline.
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