The Morrison Government is backing Tasmanian manufacturers to grow their businesses, employ more Tasmanians and compete internationally as part of its plan for a strong economy and a stronger future.

Four innovative Tasmanian businesses will share in almost $20 million of funding through Round 2 of the Integration and Translation Streams of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The Prime Minister said the funding would help the Tasmanian companies unlock new manufacturing opportunities, boost production and create more than 100 new jobs and even more indirect jobs.

“Tasmania has got the goods, the talent and the innovation to take on the world, and the Coalition’s economic plan is backing the state to do exactly that,” the Prime Minister said.

“The Coalition’s $20 million cash injection for these projects will be leveraged with over $44.2 million in private sector co-investment. It’s just the boost these four impressive businesses need to take their products to the next level, creating jobs from their good ideas and hard work.

“Whether it’s a million more litres of Lark, shoring-up Australian made aluminium fluoride at Alcore, a quadrupling of seaweed extracts at Marinova or making one of the biggest breakthroughs in dairy since pasteurisation into a reality with Naturo’s milk-processing factory, we’re backing Tasmania and Tasmanian jobs.

“The Election will be a choice, between a Coalition Government that delivers a strong economy that enables investment in Australian manufacturing capability, or a Labor Government that will weaken the manufacturing sector by making Australia a harder place to do business with higher taxes and higher energy costs.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this funding would bolster Tasmania’s thriving manufacturing sector and unlock further significant investment.

“From paddock to port, from Bell Bay to Hobart, Tasmania is home to some of our most innovative advanced manufacturers, making world-leading products that leverage Tasmania’s reputation of premium, high-quality goods and exports,” Minister Taylor said.

“We are backing these businesses to turn good ideas into commercial success stories and build critical capability for the future.

“Our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is all about helping home-grown manufacturers break into new markets and turn innovative ideas into a reality.

“The spin-off is more jobs, more investment, more exports and more Australian companies leading the way.”

The four Tasmanian businesses sharing in almost $20 million Round 2 of the Integration and Translation Streams of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative are:

• Tasmanian icon Lark Distilling has received $4.5 million to build and construct a new single malt distillery on the Shene Estate in Pontville. It will be capable of producing one million litres of spirit on a system manufactured locally in Westbury, Tasmania. This investment will increase its export potential 10 to 20 times current export volumes and showcase the Australian premium spirits industry to key global markets in Asia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
  
• Chemical company Alcore will receive $7.5 million to construct a world-first commercial plant in Bell Bay to recycle more than 1,600 tonnes per year of aluminium smelter waste into valuable chemicals including aluminium fluoride – an essential chemical for aluminium smelting. Currently, Australian aluminium smelters are entirely dependent on imported aluminium fluoride. Alcore will be the first aluminium fluoride producer in Australia and will also deliver the first hydrogen fluoride production in Australia since 1995.
  
• Food innovation company Naturo is being supported with a $5.9 million investment in its world-first Haelen Method milk factory, which uses pressure treatment instead of heat to kill harmful pathogens. The manufacturing facility will be located at Wesley Vale and will be capable of producing 40 million litres per annum of high-quality Tasmanian fresh milk with a 60-day shelf-life due to the patented technology.
  
• Tasmanian biotech leader Marinova has been awarded $1.9 million to accelerate production of high purity seaweed extracts used in medical products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and in complimentary medicines by more than 300 per cent. This project will see Marinova develop new ingredients for therapeutic medicines, capture more export opportunities and generate more than 100 indirect jobs.

Whether it’s recycling aluminium smelter waste into valuable chemicals or developing world-first technology to extend the shelf-life of milk – these investments under our Modern Manufacturing Strategy will position Australia as a globally recognised high-quality and sustainable manufacturing nation.