Shoalhaven Export Hub - Senators Visit to the Shoalhaven Export Hub
Fri 12 Feb 2021
The Economic Development Office is undertaking a program with local exporting industries to grow their international sales. This 2 year project has been 50% funded by the Australian Government through its AusIndustry arm and Austrade. Council has employed an Export Facilitator, Milton Bazley, who works out of the Economic Development Office within the City Futures Directorate.
On Thursday 11 February members of the Shoalhaven Export Hub were pleased to meet with Senator the Hon. Marise Payne – Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women and Senator Jim Molan AO DSC during their visit to the Shoalhaven and South Coast of NSW.
During the meeting, Export Hub members including Resilience Logistic Solutions, Stormtech, Ulladulla Fishermen’s Co-operative and Air Affairs Australia (AAA) explained their businesses to the Senators and raised issues of special interest.
Jason Apps, Manager/Company Secretary at the Ulladulla Fishermen’s Co-operative explained how the Australian Governments’ International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) program is helping to keep the Fishermen’s Co-Op afloat after the community was hit by bushfires, floods and COVID-19. Yellow fin tuna processed by the Fishermen’s Co-Op are trucked to Sydney in time for the few international flights out of Australia. While it is costing more to get the fish overseas with COVID, for the Fishermen’s Co-Op, it is still worth exporting their catch.
In relation to crewing fishing boats, the Foreign Minister drew attention to the Pacific Labour Scheme which helps address workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia, while providing opportunities for Pacific and Timorese workers to gain experience, earn income and send remittances home to support their families and communities.
Troy Creighton - Managing Director at Stormtech, which designs and manufactures linear drainage products in South Nowra, noted that consolidation in the domestic transport industry had contributed to reduced competition and higher costs.
After a presentation by Chris Sievers – CEO of Air Affairs Australia (AAA) on the company’s operation, Darren Bramley – Production Manager took the Senators and Export Hub members for a tour of their advanced manufacturing facility. AAA is a leader in the provision of specialised airborne and engineering services to Defence Forces, Government Departments and multinational companies in Australia and around the world.
Given the number of Shoalhaven based manufacturing and service businesses associated with Defence, we were pleased to hear both Senators comment they needed to encourage the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Melissa Price MP to visit the Shoalhaven in the future.
Special thanks to Air Affairs Australia for hosting the Senators and Export Hub members.