Manufacturing
We have brilliant scientists, skilled engineers and a world class workforce. If we back them, and invest in our manufacturing industry, we can tackle the climate crisis, strengthen local communities and create well paid secure jobs.
Australia invented solar panel tech, wi-fi, and the bionic eye. We used to make our own cars, and we can do it again.
The Greens plan includes:
- Using low cost, green energy to rebuild our manufacturing industry, support new green export industries and bring back jobs that have gone overseas
- A rapid transition to 100% renewables, creating jobs, industries and innovation along the way
- Establish the Manufacturing Australia Fund to help local manufacturers recover from the pandemic, move off coal and gas and expand into new sectors
- Use government investment to drive new export industries in green hydrogen and minerals processing, ensuring Australia becomes a renewable superpower
- Buy Local, Buy Green - make sure the government is buying products made by local workers produced with clean, green materials and power
Refurbish Our Industrial Hubs and Create A Manufacturing Renaissance (p.35)
One million new homes
We have a crisis of affordable housing. Many young people will never be able to buy a home, rents are too expensive and public housing waiting lists grow longer and longer.
9 new jobs are created for every additional million dollars we spend on new home construction
The Greens plan includes:
- Build a million new, affordable, accessible and sustainable new homes to clear public housing waiting lists, make housing more affordable, end homelessness, and ensure everyone has a roof over their head
- Improve existing homes with $7 billion in capital grants to make homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer
- Progressively phase out negative gearing on second, third, fourth or more investment properties over 5 years.
- Create 45,000 new ongoing direct jobs in construction and an additional 90,000 indirect jobs in the broader economy
Science & Innovation
Our wellbeing, economy and ability to respond to major crises relies on science. Investing in science creates jobs, makes our economy stronger, and allows Australia to overcome the challenges we face as a nation.
Under the Coalition Government, funding for science, research and development in Australia has constantly fallen below the OECD average.
It’s time to invest in the knowledge economy & foster a culture where innovation, invention and experimentation can flourish.
The Greens plan includes:
- Making Australia a global leader in science, research and innovation, with a $17.8 billion investment in the sector over the decade
- Investing $5.5 billion in universities, the powerhouses of the research ecosystem, and improve job security for scientists and researchers
- Providing $1.3 billion to CSIRO and other public research agencies
- Establishing a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to provide independent, scientific advice to Parliament
Free Uni & Tafe
As technology changes the nature of work, people often need to retrain, and that requires access to high-quality, affordable education. But instead, Liberal and Labor have cut funding and hiked fees for Universities and TAFE.
Higher education used to be completely free. Now, students are leaving university or TAFE with big debts.
The Greens plan includes:
- The biggest investment in higher education this country has ever seen
- Wipe out student debt. Fully fund unlimited free TAFE, university for everyone
- Ensure our unis, TAFEs and schools are accessible and sustainable through a $5 billion Green Education Infrastructure Fund
Circular economy
We offshore too much of our recycling, and don’t reuse our e-waste. We aren’t just wasting the materials we use, we are wasting an opportunity to create jobs and economic opportunities here.
Transitioning to circular economies could generate $175 billion in direct benefit to the economy.
The Greens plan includes:
- Provide $1bn for a nationwide compostable processing scheme supporting local councils to build industrial compostable facilities, which will make best use of our recycled goods, will create thousands of jobs, and help us live more sustainably
- Invest $500 million over five years into infrastructure and programs to reboot recycling
- Invest $50 million in waste avoidance and reduction research
- Support the Right to Repair to minimise e-waste
- Tackle plastic waste by phasing out key single use plastics and a national approach to container deposit schemes to encourage reuse
Consumer Rights
Big businesses should not be able to withhold or delay refunds, the COVID pandemic highlighted limitations on how consumers can access refunds for when travel is cancelled.
Consumers have rights to access good quality purchases, and access to competitive rates.
There are over 2 million small businesses in Australia, employing millions of workers.
The Greens will:
- Amend the Consumer and Competition Regulations to deliver a right to repair
- Amend consumer law to bring consumers a right to refund
- Amend copyright law to improve repairers access
Together, we’re powerful.
We're fighting to get real climate action, make the big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax, and get dental and mental health in Medicare. The Greens are fighting for your future.