What do engineers need to know about the 2024 Federal Budget?

• $68 million to establish the Future Made in Australia agenda
• $1.7 billion for investments in innovation, science and digital capabilities to support Future Made in Australia, including: 
  • $566.1 million for Geoscience Australia to map Australia’s resources and identify potential discoveries of critical minerals
  • $466.4 million for quantum computing facilities with PsiQuantum and the Queensland Government
  • $448.7 million to join with the United States on the next generation of the Landsat satellite earth observation program

Madew said the government’s Future Made in Australia framework is the first generational plan we have seen in Australia to tackle the looming energy transition.

“Future Made is not just taking a renewables and decarbonisation perspective,” she said. “It looks at the economics – the need to build new green markets and jobs to replace old ones, harness technology and innovation, and consider supply chains from the perspective of both engaging with trade and also being clear-eyed about national resilience.”

Priority industries include renewable hydrogen, green metals, low carbon liquid fuels, refining and processing of critical minerals, and manufacturing of clean energy technologies, including in solar and battery supply chains.

• An estimated $7.1 billion to support refining and processing of critical minerals including a Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive
• An estimated $8.0 billion to support the production of renewable hydrogen, including a Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, an additional round of the Hydrogen Headstart program, and for the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy, including hydrogen infrastructure planning, social licence, and industry safety training and regulation
• The Australian Renewable Energy Agency gets $1.5 billion to supercharge its current investments, and $1.7 billion for a new Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund.
• $1.4 billion for manufacturing of clean energy technologies, including:
  • $835.6 million to establish the Solar Sunshot program
  • $549.0 million for battery manufacturing (the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre and the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, and an Australian Made Battery Manufacturing Precinct) 
  • $2.0 million to look at feasibility for a green polysilicon industry in Australia
• $20.9 million looking into low carbon liquid fuels, including a certification scheme through the Guarantee of Origin Scheme
• $18.1 million to expedite the emergence of Australia’s green metals industry
• $11.4 million to fast track the Guarantee of Origin Scheme for green hydrogen
• Up to $655 million under the Critical Minerals Facility and up to $400 million through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility
• Funding for sustainable finance markets, strengthening and fast-tracking environmental approvals, and developing the clean energy workforce
• There is also $209.3m to expand the Net Zero Economic Authority and $178.6m in worker transition support. This will be vital support for workers and regions impacted by the move from fossil fuels to clean energy.

“Unleashing the engineering workforce right across industry, boosting engineering skills in government, and investing in more engineering research and development are the keys to creating the innovation and value-add that the government is seeking through its Future Made in Australia agenda,” Madew said.

To make Future Made in Australia work, the government needs to plan now to equip Australians with the digital and green skills they will need to transfer to the industries and jobs of the future.

The Budget outlines support for the clean energy workforce including:

• $91 million for the VET sector
• $55.6 million for the Building Women’s Careers program to improve women’s access to flexible, safe and inclusive work in traditionally male-dominated industries
• $38.2 million to increase diversity in STEM education and industries
• $10.0 million in 2025-26 to establish a National Hydrogen Technology Skills Training Centre, in partnership with the Victorian Government

“Government and industry must look to training and upskilling the labour force both in using the technology and rolling out new digital tools,” Madew said. “Training in these skills should complement and expand core competencies and drive the standardisation of methods.”

Funding includes:

• $21.6 million for a reshaped National AI Centre and an AI advisory body within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources
• More than $15 million to support the capability and coordination of AI policy and engagement activities across government. This includes improving regulations in areas of health care and copyright law.
• $2.6 million to mitigate against national security risks related to AI

“Government and industry must look to training and upskilling the labour force both in using the technology and rolling out new digital tools,” Madew said. “Training in these skills should complement and expand core competencies and drive the standardisation of methods.”

The government has earmarked $1.1 billion in funding over the next five years, and an additional $2.7 billion from 2028-29 to 2034‍-‍35, to expand access to higher education and support future productivity.

• The Budget has responded to 29 of the 47 recommendations from the Universities Accord, including:
  • Adopting a target of 80 per cent of the working age population holding a tertiary qualification by 2050
  • Initiatives to support tertiary harmonisation – better collaboration between the higher education and VET sectors
  • The establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, a new governance structure for the Higher Education system.
  • A strategic examination of research and development
  • Focus across the initiatives to support higher education participation from underrepresented cohorts, such as needs-based funding
  • $90 million for 20,000 fee-free TAFE places for the housing and construction sector

“Governments need to do more to address shortages by removing barriers to completing a degree and entering the workforce,” Madew explained. “Engineers need to support themselves and their families and if the nation is serious about ensuring a smarter future, this scheme should include engineers.”

The Budget provides for:

• $519.1 million from the Future Drought Fund to help farmers and rural communities manage the impacts of climate change and prepare for future droughts
• Bidding to co-host, with the Pacific, the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31)
• $23 million for circular economy policy, program and legislative functions
• $138.7 million to improve Australia’s response and resilience to natural hazards and disasters, and a pilot program for a Strategic Fleet of vessels to improve crisis response capacity

“These initiatives aim to create tangible benefits for everyday Australians,” Madew, who is a member of the (Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group) CEMAG, explained.

“By transitioning to a circular economy and environmentally sustainable procurement, we are safeguarding our planet for future generations while driving economic prosperity for everyone.”

Infrastructure investment continues with the government looking to build a better future through considered infrastructure investment. This follows its review of the $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline and the Infrastructure Policy Statement release at the end of last year. 

• $4.1 billion has been allocated to 65 new priority infrastructure projects across Australia:
  • $200 million investment for the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program 
  • $100.0 million over four years for an Active Transport Fund which will support the construction and upgrade of bicycle and walking paths across Australia
• $40 million investment in regional Australia for First Nations Digital Inclusion to roll out of community wi-fi
• $154 million investment to implement a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard
• $176.4 million to deliver new water infrastructure projects

The budget places a focus on homes for Australia. This includes:

• $1 billion for crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.
• $1 billion worth of funding for states and territories to build the infrastructure needed for new homes and social housing supply
• A new $9.3 billion, five-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness to help state and territory governments combat homelessness

“To enable the best value for this investment, innovation in the building sector is needed,” Madew said. “It is good to see this investment coming at the same time the Building Ministers progress to cut red tape and enable more modular housing to be built.”

To deliver on the 2024 National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program, the government will invest an additional $50.3 billion over 10 years. This investment will include:

• $1 billion to expedite investments in areas such as fuel resilience and robotic and autonomous systems
• More than $11 billion to deliver on the Independent Analysis of Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet
• $38.2 billion over seven years from 2027–28 to support the next generation capabilities within the Integrated Investment Program