Albo takes control
The prime minister wants to take control of the narrative over industry policy, but questions remain about whether Australians are ready to have the conversation.
For much of Anthony Albanese’s prime ministership, there has been creeping internal criticism about a lack of narrative on the economy and jobs.
The Albanese government has plenty of different industry policies spread over many departments and ministers designed to meet its emission reduction targets and bring manufacturing back to Australia. For example, Ed Husic has the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, Madeleine King has her $4 billion in cheap loans for critical minerals and Chris Bowen has $1 billion for solar panels and the $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program.
But up until last week, Labor MPs privately complained there was no overarching message to sell to voters.
Albanese’s decision to create a Future Made in Australia Act, announced last week as the country's answer to the US Inflation Reduction Act, is his attempt to take control of the narrative. The legislation, which will be introduced later this year, will combine a number of existing measures, with new spending to be unveiled in next month’s budget.
