STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms BYRNES (Cunningham) (13:34): The Albanese Labor government is delivering the investment the Illawarra needs to be a true force in the advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries. Illawarra company Sicona Battery Technologies is pioneering the next generation of battery materials. Their innovative technology, born out of work at the University of Wollongong, will cut battery charging times by 40 per cent, improve performance and create a sovereign battery supply chain in Australia.

It is compatible with existing lithium-ion technology, which means it can be used in everything from electric vehicles to drones, laptops and so much more. I am delighted that the Albanese Labor government is investing in Sicona, with $45 million delivered this week through ARENA. This funding will help Sicona expand its production capacity by 300 times, taking the tech from pilot scale towards full commercial scale.

As global demand for batteries continues to grow, particularly for energy storage and electric vehicles, this investment will unlock enormous potential across Australia and globally. Our region has the skills, capability and drive to lead the clean energy transition and strengthen Australia's advanced manufacturing future. Local companies like Sicona, Hysata, Green Gravity, Gridsight, Gravitas and more are creating a cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy system.

We're backing local jobs and local innovation, and we're backing the future made in the Illawarra.