Defence industry manufacturing and supporting local businesses through the crushing COVID-19 downturn were key themes of the visit to Maryborough yesterday by Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo).

In the dark days of April last year, a million Australians lost their jobs due to COVID-19, and our Government acted quickly, bringing forward tax incentives to support new investment and increase business cash flow to protect jobs.

About 19,400 businesses in Wide Bay have been eligible to write off the full value of any eligible asset they purchased.

Global Manufacturing Group in Maryborough seized the opportunity to invest in new equipment, and take on new apprentices with assistance from wage subsidies, positioning the business for a bright future.

PM Scott Morrison and Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien visited Global Manufacturing Group and saw how the business has stepped up manufacturing in Maryborough, putting our region on the world stage with the latest innovation and technology.

Director Phil Dowling says Global Manufacturing Group can “make anything” – they are diversifying our Wide Bay economy and working hand-in-hand with large manufacturers such as Rheinmetall to boost Australia’s defence capabilities.

And this is all happening right here in Maryborough.

The visit was then mentioned in Question Time by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who gave a shout out to Maryborough’s Global Manufacturing Group and the Rheinmetall NIOA forging plant as examples of where our Government is working with business and industry to create local jobs.

These investments are built on the Coalition Government’s platform of lower taxes to boost Australia’s sovereign capability and advanced manufacturing.