Industrial Transformation Australia Innovation Stage Agenda

Calling for a change in Australia’s manufacturing and packaging policies. As global supply chains become increasingly volatile, is Australia too dependent on imported manufacturing inputs and packaging materials? This panel will examine whether the nation needs to rethink its approach to sovereign capability, industrial policy and long-term resilience. Drawing on recent industry disruptions, rising costs and growing supply uncertainty, the discussion will explore how decades of offshoring and short-term cost focus have weakened local manufacturing capacity — and what it would take to rebuild it. From plastics and packaging to energy, recycling and advanced manufacturing, the session will challenge whether Australia can afford to prioritise convenience over self-sufficiency any longer.