Imagine a Land… Where Manufacturing Dreams Down Under Could Be Reality

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

Imagine a land where the ground itself is filled with fortune — oceans of iron ore, rivers of coal, vast reserves of gas, and sun-drenched plains ready for industry.

Imagine this land abundant not only with resources, but with space, stability and a workforce capable of down to earth world-class innovation.

Imagine if this land wasn’t simply a massive quarry for the world, shipping out raw materials and buying back expensive finished goods… but instead added value right here, built industries here, created prosperity here.

This land is Australia.

Yet somehow, in public debate, the idea of Australia as an advanced manufacturing nation is treated like a pipe dream.

Just because we don’t manufacture cars anymore, the lazy assumption is: “Oh, we mustn’t manufacture anything.”

Well, I call bullshit. We already have the building blocks:

Iron ore — the lifeblood of steel.

Coal and gas — critical for energy during industrial transitions.

Rare earths — the essential elements for advanced technologies.

Uranium — a sleeping giant for clean, reliable base load power. Why can't we process it and sell fuel rods etc, which we then take back and bury at the end of a useful life or reprocess if possible?

Land — enormous tracts ideal for factory zones, industrial hubs, clean-energy parks.

Now, consider this: India is actively encouraging its companies to acquire overseas iron ore and coking coal assets to secure the raw materials necessary for its expanding steel industry. Reuters

While other nations are strategising to ensure their industrial growth, Australia continues to export its raw materials without fully capitalising on the opportunity to process and manufacture domestically.

So, here we are, selling raw materials for cents on the dollar, then watching the world get rich turning them into the finished products we ourselves consume.

Here’s the missed opportunity: We could be making steel, and green steel, not just shipping iron ore. We could be producing batteries, not just exporting lithium. We could be leading in zero-carbon ammonia, critical minerals refining, next-gen energy, AI manufacturing, defence tech, clean fuels, innovative low socio-economic housing solutions, and efficient, cost-friendly Green Hydrogen (something close to my heart).

We could — and should — be a manufacturing powerhouse for the 21st century.

But, but, but… the naysayers cry: “We don’t have the population!” True, Australia doesn’t have 300 million people like the US. But that’s no excuse. Why?

• Automation, AI, and robotics have changed the rules.

• Advanced manufacturing is not about thousands on a production line — it’s about high-value, precision industries.

• Germany (with 83 million people) punches above its weight as a manufacturing giant.

• Israel, Denmark, Sweden — small populations, but with huge innovation footprints.

What matters most is vision, leadership, and will. Yes, there are challenges: Skills shortages (solved by better education and smart immigration); Energy costs (solved by securing reliable, affordable energy — hello, uranium and gas); Capital investment (solved by political courage, incentives, and partnership with industry).

But these are not showstoppers. They are hurdles, and hurdles exist to be cleared.

The question is simple: Do we want to remain a quarry for the world? Digging it up and shipping it out? Or do we want to build, create, innovate, prosper, and lead? I know what future I’m choosing to imagine — and fight for.

Bloody oath.

Australia: From Quarry to Creator.

From Extraction to Excellence.

From Raw Materials to National Might.

The seeds are already in our hands. The future is ours to build… if we dare.

"From little things, big things grow.” — Paul Kelly

#AdvancedManufacturing #AustralianEconomy #Innovation #Leadership #FutureAustralia