The Coalition Government will invest more than $3.3 million in the University of Southern Queensland to fund the Sustainable Industry Manufacturing Planning for Long-term Ecosystems (SIMPLE) Hub.
Minister for Regional Education, Bridget McKenzie said a total of more than $19 million is being invested in a range of projects to boost the research capabilities of Australia’s regional universities and, with it, create strong and thriving local economies.
Minister McKenzie said she was excited to announce the University of Southern Queensland’s SIMPLE Hub is one of five projects to be funded under the Coalition Government’s Regional Research Collaboration program.
“Australia produces world-class research, and we want our regions to contribute to that proud tradition as well as reap the benefits from it, creating more resilient regional economies,” Minister McKenzie said.
“This project will benefit the nation’s circular economy playing a key role in how we design and develop new products for green energy, resource recovery and waste recycling and upcycling to help us meet our waste and recycling targets by 2030.
“The project will create a pipeline of industry-ready researchers and innovators for regional manufacturing to develop a new circular economy.
“The Coalition Government continues to build on its more than $120 billion investment in regional Australia – the engine-room of our nation’s economy – to ensure a sustainable, prosperous and secure future for people living in the regions.
“By contrast, Labor has no plan or vision for regional centres like Toowoomba. Labor Leader Anthony Albanese can barely bring himself to mention the word ‘region’.”
LNP Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton welcomed the announcement for the region and said the project champions the world class research being undertaken in the Toowoomba region.
“The Regional Research Collaboration program supports the Coalition Government’s agenda to strengthen tertiary education in regional and remote Australia,” Mr Hamilton said.
“A strong Coalition Government can ensure the delivery of more projects that grow our regional communities and meet our National Manufacturing Priorities, while Labor continues to neglect and ignore regional Australians.”
The Regional Research Collaboration program was announced as part of the Job-ready Graduates program and addresses a key recommendation from the Napthine Review to grow the tertiary education sector in regional Australia.
Only a Coalition Government will continue to deliver a better future for Queensland, and this is part of our plan to build a strong economy and a stronger future.
More information is available at https://www.dese.gov.au/regional-research-collaboration-program
