Mr Guy said the company, which was helped by the government to ramp up production of face masks when the pandemic hit, had been treated appallingly, and once stockpiles were filled, forced to again compete on price with cheaper Chinese-made products.
“Why would we not prioritise a company that can help solve some of our production line problems we all know exist in this country?” he said.
Mr Guy and state Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh announced a billion-dollar fund to drive opportunities for businesses to expand and create a manufacturing powerhouse in regional Victoria.
In a drive to create new jobs, strengthen regional economies and restore business confidence, the program will focus on key areas of competitive advantage, including healthcare, food, fibre and beverages, rare earth and mineral processing, and will support both short-term expansion and longer-term development opportunities.
“Victoria’s largest ever investment in manufacturing will mean not just jobs but careers for local communities desperate to rebuild and recover,” Mr Guy said.
“Under our plan, $1 billion will be invested in regional projects to support communities across regional Victoria becoming manufacturing hubs once again.”
It will support businesses to expand or replace imports with manufacturing operations located in regional communities like Med-Con has.
Mr Walsh said Victoria had a real opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and attract millions of dollars in investment, while regenerating its own capability to produce critical supplies that had otherwise been lost to overseas competitors.
“Located just a couple of hours from business opportunities in Melbourne and strategically located on key freight links, Shepparton is in prime position to seize on the new manufacturing opportunities this $1 billion fund would offer,” he said.
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