As the coronavirus crisis overloads health systems worldwide and sees countries struggling to obtain vital medical supplies for health workers and patients, a consortium of Australian companies has come together to make ventilators for the country’s hospitals.
These 30 Australian manufacturers are promising to produce 2,000 ventilators by the end of July.
The companies hail from the automotive, aerospace and high-tech engineering fields, teaming up to build components and assemble the life-saving devices.
Leading the charge is Melbourne engineering and technology firm Grey Innovation, a company that specialises in medical devices. The firm was able to obtain plans for the ventilator design from an international manufacturer.
The firm's chairman, Jefferson Harcourt, said the initiative quickly received support, with the Victorian and federal governments jumping on board and providing funding,"It's a privilege to be responsible to lead this consortium and to deliver this technology to save lives. It's an absolute privilege, it's not lost on any of us here, we take it very seriously and we're honoured" he said.
The Federal Government has announced a deal to produce an additional 2000 ventilators in Australia. Source: MTI
Made in Australia
The crisis has exposed flaws in Australia's medical supply chain and raised questions about the future of the manufacturing industry. Now, there are calls to revive the ailing sector in a country that has lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2008.
‘’There's no doubt that during this crisis when we're still hearing we're importing PPE or masks or anything else out of other countries to get through this crisis, that puts doubt in Australians' minds that we are in a way resilient and able to be self-reliant in relation to looking after ourselves’’ said John Barilaro, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and he added: ‘’I think there is a future for advance manufacturing and manufacturing in this nation and this crisis has shown that."
The Deputy Prime Minister of NSW also believes that the role of manufacturing will become more important as the pandemic forces countries to close themselves off from the world.
"I think there's an opportunity, borders are popular again and it won't be just Australia thinking this, other nations will be exactly the same and I think the day of a globalised economy has probably come to an end,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Labor senator Kim Carr is urging all politicians to come together and support the manufacturing industry.
Mr Carr dismissed what he called "myths by free traders" that argue Australia's high wages, lack of promixity to markets and lack of ability would hinder the production of goods. He believes with the right government policy, the sector could see a resurgence in the near future.
"Of course it's better late than never. It's such a tragedy that they decided to turn their backs on manufacturing for the last generation. We need to return to a bipartisan position where 'Made in Australia' becomes the central policy of governments at all levels in Australia.''
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