Why the coronavirus must spark a revival in Australian manufacturing

Australia must rebuild its weakened manufacturing sector to power the nation’s recovery after coronavirus, a prominent economist has said. Bolstering manufacturing will not only ensure the country has enough essential supplies to manage the crisis, it will provide the “productive capacity” needed to rebuild the economy once the virus is contained. And an abundance of renewable energy means the manufacturing revival could help in the fight against climate change. Echoing a similar argument put forward by economist Ross Garnaut, Centre for Future Work senior economist Alison Pennington told The New Daily Australia should use its “comparative advantage in renewables” to power a sustainable revival of manufacturing.