Urgency in local medical manufacturing supported by voters’ concerns

MedTech News: Almost 90% of Australian voters support government funded investment for manufacturing of medical tests in Australia, including 95% of LNP voters and 87% of ALP voters.

The survey asked voters about their concerns on medical testing supplies impacted by COVID, conflict and high transport costs and whether Australia should invest tax-payer funds to manufacture medical testing in Australia.

Alongside the high voter support for Government investment in manufacturing of medical tests in Australia is a high level of concern about future shortages of medical tests. The survey data shows 69% of voters in Federal marginal seats are concerned about shortages of medical tests such as those used for COVID, including 75% of ALP voters and 71% of LNP voters.

Support for taxpayer funded medical manufacturing investment from all voters in marginal seats was at 86% while uncommitted voters were in support for investment at 89%.

Andrew Laidlaw from Laidlaw Campaigns commented “Voters can see Australia’s supply chains they personally rely on are under threat from global disruptions that are out of their control. In the eyes of voters, sovereign manufacturing is a logical way Australia can retake control of critical supply chains at a time of heightened global uncertainty.”

Pathology Technology Australia CEO, Dean Whiting, said “Two years into the pandemic, Australians understand how fragile supply chains are for critical medical supplies amidst the threat of further COVID outbreaks, war in Europe and freight challenges.

“It is critical we continue to advocate for stronger resilience in Australia’s supply chains. In the meantime, it is clear we can no longer rely solely on the imports from global markets to solve our medical testing needs. Supply chain constraints are only going to increase; alternative paths within our control must urgently be prioritised especially as there is nothing to suggest this fragility of global markets won’t be a feature of our long-term future.

“It is PTA’s hope that Australia continues to invest in sovereign supply of critical medical tests, while creating high-skilled and high-tech jobs and boosting the economy. South Korea is a comparable economy that does manufacture diagnostics and exports globally. In 2020 it exported $1.86b of infectious disease tests.

“The ongoing supply chain constraints and appetite for local capabilities are on the back of an incredibly turbulent global atmosphere. PTA’s advocacy efforts in suring up Australia’s supply chains and the new audit for commercialisation of goods in Australia are a direct reflection of the Australian public’s interests.”

The survey was conducted as part of the Resolve Political Monitor with a nationally representative sample of 1,600 Australian voters.