The Government will drive innovation and renewal in the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industries by investing $401.0 million in a retargeted TCF package from 2009-10 to 2015 16. The package redirects $55.0 million towards innovation, including $10.0 million in new funding.
The package recognises the importance of the TCF industries, which employ over 45,000 Australians and underpin regional economies around the country. It aims to make the TCF sector stronger and more sustainable by supporting the development of new products and processes, especially at the high-tech, high-value end of the market. Under the package, the Australian Government will:
- introduce a new $30.0 million TCF Strategic Capability Program to support large projects that will boost innovation capacity and performance at the enterprise level;
- establish a Clothing and Household Textile Building Innovative Capability Program to support investment and innovation – based on the TCF Strategic Investment Program, with $25.0 million in additional funding;
- establish a TCF Industries Innovation Council bringing together business, unions, researchers and government to champion innovation in the sector and provide strategic advice;
- establish a National TCF Innovation Network within Enterprise Connect to support collaboration between companies and between industry, researchers and educational institutions;
- retain the TCF Small Business Program, to improve business enterprise culture;
- commission the TCF Industries Innovation Council to provide further advice on the introduction of a voluntary ethical quality mark, voluntary national sizing standards for clothing and footwear, and a national anthropometric (human measurement) database; and
- proceed with the TCF tariff reductions already enshrined in legislation.
The TCF package responds to the recommendations of last year’s Review of the Australian TCF Industries by Professor Roy Green.
As recommended by Professor Green, the new package will be partially funded by discontinuing the poorly targeted TCF Product Diversification Scheme and not proceeding with the TCF Supply Chain Opportunities Program, due to start in 2010.
Media contact: Catriona Jackson, Minister’s Office, 0417 142 238