Albanese's Made in Australia policy lacks clear framework, says Rod Sims

The news: The Superpower Institute chief executive Rod Sims has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Future Made in Australia policy for lacking a clear framework and undermining the country's potential to export green energy.

The context: In a speech to the Melbourne Economic Forum on Wednesday, the former competitions regulator chair said the government needed to be more specific about the kind of net zero transition projects it was prepared to support.

Sims said that adopting a Made in Australia policy would make it more difficult for the country to realise its potential as a renewable energy export superpower, because it would not allow Australian businesses to focus on where they had competitive advantages.

What they said: "Under this form of 'Made in Australia' approach, Australia will not achieve the lowest cost inputs to the supply of such goods, so Australia will not be cost competitive in their supply, and the green traded products will not be as cost competitive with existing fossil fuel-made products," Sims told the forum.