New taskforce to create jobs by attracting businesses and talent to Australia

International businesses will be lured to Australia
and exceptional talent will be encouraged to call Australia home under a new
initiative to support the post-COVID recovery and boost local jobs.

The new, whole-of-government Global Business
and Talent Attraction Taskforce will bring together experts from across the
Commonwealth, States and Territories as well as the private sector, as part of
the Government’s JobMaker plan.

Senior business leader, Peter Verwer AO, has
been appointed as the head of the Taskforce and will be known as the Prime
Minister’s Special Envoy for Global Business and Talent Attraction.

The Taskforce will operate as a ‘strike team’ to turbo-charge the creation of jobs by boosting our efforts
to attract high value global business and exceptional talent.

The initial focus will
be on three key sectors: advanced manufacturing, financial services (including
FinTech) and health.

Australia is
strategically well positioned given its management of the pandemic and our
relatively strong economy. We have always been an attractive destination due to
our lifestyle, democratic system, clean cities and proximity to Asia. We
can use those advantages to bring more global business and talent to our shores
and help create more Australian jobs.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship,
Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the global context
had significantly changed and many talented people and businesses will now be
looking to places like Australia.

“Australia has always been an attractive
destination for talent and investment, but given our relative success
economically, from a health perspective, and socially, we will be even more
attractive. 

“We want to capitalise on this and be very
focussed on attracting key businesses and global super talent to Australia.
 This will aid our recovery and boost jobs for Australians.” 

“The Taskforce will take a whole-of-government
approach, including coordinating closely with State Government initiatives.
 We will be leveraging our networks abroad, including the Australian
diaspora, to help identify opportunities.”

Minister for Trade,
Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said luring more investment from global
businesses in emerging industries would be a critical part of Australia’s
overall economic recovery from COVID-19. 

“Through this taskforce
and the ongoing work of Austrade we will highlight to global businesses that
our overall economic management and handling
of the COVID-19 pandemic strengthens our reputation as a stable and attractive
investment destination,” Minister Birmingham said.

“As our economy
continues to transform, attracting talent and investment will be critical to
bringing additional business nous and new technologies to help drive growth in
the development of high-value goods and services in emerging industries. 

“With one in 10 jobs
already supported by foreign direct investment, boosting investment and getting
more global businesses to set up shop here will help drive more jobs and
opportunities for Australians.”

On 9 July, the Prime Minister announced that
Australia would develop incentives to attract export orientated Hong Kong based
businesses to relocate to Australia. 

This initiative builds on this idea, and
the Global Talent and Business Innovation and Investment programs,
to attract high value businesses and exceptionally talented individuals to
Australia to create jobs for Australians.    

The Taskforce will join up the Department of
Home Affairs with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade),
and draw on expertise from the Treasury, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Defence, and the Department of
Education, Skills and Employment.

They will work closely with the States and
Territories, industry leaders and specialists in identifying and executing
opportunities. 

Parties can express their interest through the
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