WHY IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: The plan calls for collaborating with other countries and sharing technology, offering potential opportunities for Wisconsin companies in that sector.
Australia’s industries have been slow to adopt the use of automation and robotics, and that has hurt the country’s economy, the government says.
Australia is No. 32 on a global scorecard of industrial use of robots and automation, and over the past 15 years, manufacturing has declined more than any other sector of the economy.
As a result, the government is pursuing its first National Robotics Strategy. It calls for boosting research and development, offering incentives to incorporate robotics, improving the safety and cyber security of robotics and automation, and strengthening paths for robotic-related careers.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said adopting robotics and automation is about supporting workers, not replacing them. “Countries investing in robotics and automation have higher manufacturing outputs alongside increased employment, growth, and job satisfaction. That’s because robotics and automation can take care of the dirty, dull, and dangerous activities, leaving skilled workers to focus on the tasks where they can add the most value,” he said.
The report says with the use of artificial intelligence, robots can perform such varied functions as harvesting crops, installing solar panels, supporting complex surgeries, boosting production capacity, and keeping workers safe in factories, construction sites and mines.
The strategy calls for learning from other countries and leveraging partnerships, opening the door for Wisconsin companies to share their expertise and seek collaborations.
Some key sectors identified for robotics and automation include mining, agriculture, construction, defense, health and medical science, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing.
Australia already is a world leader in using automation in mining, the report said. Mineral resources accounted for 69% of Australia’s export revenue in 2021-22 and employed more than 300,000 people.
According to S&P Global, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., BHP Group Ltd., and Rio Tinto Group are among the companies automating their operations in Australia. There are 975 autonomous haul trucks operating in 25 Australian mines, according to GlobalData.
In another example, in the agriculture sector, Burlington Berries at Cressy, in northern Tasmania, used 16 robotic harvesters from the British company Dogtooth Technologies to help pick its strawberries last summer.
Wisconsin companies could consider attending one of Australia’s major industry events and conferences, including CeMAT Australia, the leading trade show for intralogistics, robotics and automation, warehousing, and supply chain management. The event is held every year in July.
