Tasmania’s manufacturing sector is globally competitive in food and beverage processing, smart technologies, forestry, maritime and defence.
Manufacturing is the 6th largest industry in Tasmania, generating A$1.9 billion and employing 17,000 people. It offers high value across the whole state.
The Tasmanian Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan 2024 sets the strategic framework to grow the sector.
The Business Growth Strategy outlines a range of initiatives and strategies in place to build emerging companies and start ups.
Tasmania offers a stable workforce with a long, strong history of good industrial relations. The total cost of employing workers in Tasmania is less than in any other Australian state or territory.
Tasmanian training providers work with local industry to ensure their training needs are met and to ensure transferrable and essential skills are created within the state.
Cutting-edge Industry 4.0 facilities
The Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Burnie on Tasmania’s north west coast is home to facilities, training spaces and equipment designed to develop workers’ and students’ skills in advanced manufacturing. It features:
- the largest simulated work environment in the southern hemisphere
- a welding simulator training centre with 8 portable virtual-reality simulators
- a co-located research and development space occupied by the University of Tasmania.
The maritime precinct near Hobart is home to a number of globally competitive shipbuilders and product manufacturers.
In the northwest is one of the country’s most significant heavy vehicle manufacturing clusters. Vehicles manufactured here are generally highly specialised products for the global underground, surface mining and rail maintenance industries.
Hobart is also Australia’s Antarctic Gateway to the great frozen continent in the south. Tasmania has strong manufacturing services and research and policy capability in Antarctic related activities. Hobart Port has a dedicated Antarctic and cruise terminal and houses the Australian Antarctic Division’s world class Cargo and Biosecurity Centre. The state is a leader in skills and research development in remote and extreme environment health care.
Incentives, grants and support
- Grant programs and support packages offered by the Tasmanian Government can be accessed via the department’s website and through the Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries Unit of the Department of State Growth
- The Tasmanian Development Board supports the industry development activities of the Department of State Growth. Its primary focus is creating investment and employment by supporting government policy implementation.
- The Office of the Coordinator-General is the primary point of access to government for investors, responsible for attracting and securing investment in projects that grow Tasmania’s economy. Through the Red Tape Reduction Coordinator, the Office also supports small business in Tasmania through the deregulation of the business environment to boost productivity and reduce operating costs.
- Trade Tasmania offers resources and marketing support to expand your manufacturing business into Tasmania.