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The future of Australia's $15 billion NRF is made in mixed messaging

The National Reconstruction Fund is supposed to be a key part of Anthony Albanese's "future made in Australia" policy. So the mixed messaging on the fund's purpose over the past week should be a concern for the PM.

Anthony Galloway
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Industry Minister Ed Husic is responsible for the NRF, which will fall under the umbrella of Anthony Albanese's 'future made in Australia' policy. AAP/Mick Tsikas

What is going on with Industry Minister Ed Husic's $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund?

It’s a fair question to ask after a week in which its chairman and chief executive appeared to contradict each other on the fund’s primary objective.

In an article in The Australian on Monday, NRF chief executive Ivan Power was quoted as saying the fund wasn’t in the business of “picking winners”, but the $15 billion facility can “look at risk differently to the private sector”.

Two days later, the NRF board’s chair Martjin Wilder told InnovationAus.com: “Of course we should be picking winners.”