What a stunning time of year to be living on the southern Gold Coast! I congratulate the organisers of the Swell Sculpture Festival, who once again transformed Currumbin Beach into a spectacular outdoor gallery.
Another transformation is taking place - next to Robina Train Station. Special assistance school, Arcadia College, is building its second campus and I relished the chance to pick up a shovel for the official sod-turning of construction.
Just down the road, The Robina Hub held their September gathering and invited me to be a guest speaker. I shared my own experiences of running a small business, as well as what the Morrison Government is doing to strengthen the economy and help businesses like theirs to grow and prosper.
The Government is also backing small and medium sized Australian manufacturers to invest in new technology, grow and create new jobs through the $160 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund. I launched this scheme as part of our plan to create 1.25 million new jobs over the next five years. A great example of a company which is adapting and thriving is B&R Enclosures, which I recently visited for a tour of their facility.
There has been a focus on Australia's relationship with America, with the Prime Minister's visit to the US. I was pleased to address the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and to discuss the Morrison Government's $150 million investment to create jobs and assist Aussie businesses to contribute to NASA's Moon to Mars Mission.
I spoke with the team from Gilmour Space Technologies in Helensvale, and they're "over the moon" about what this could mean for their local company. Plus, Tasmania has got on board, with the State Government signing an MoU with the Australian Space Agency to help triple the size of the sector by 2030.
We expect these announcements will generate excitement within our young people, to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and potentially be involved with some life-changing discoveries. I am always thrilled to see kids engaging in the sciences and loved participating in Caningeraba Primary School’s after school program recently. They had a visit from Dr Joe the Travelling Scientist, who demonstrated science in a way that promoted wonderful interaction. Keep up the good work!
