Manufacturers and the supply chain have been part of the Australian industrial landscape since the 1830s, when the first blast furnace was introduced.
In the 1960s, Australia peaked with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) input of 25 per cent – now it’s below six per cent.
In 2025, the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) launched the Australian Manufacturing Blueprint.
This is our policy platform, which has enabled us to have stronger conversations with policy makers about legislative reform. Our Five Pillars of Growth – Economic, Energy, Educate, Expand, Evolve – focus on key areas where manufacturing can continue to add value and increase our GDP from 5.9 per cent to 10 per cent in five years. We believe goals are necessary to get results.
SEMMA was established by a group of manufacturers determined to keep the rolling stock manufacturing supply chain in Dandenong, Victoria. Now 23 years later, our advocacy continues as we make our members’ needs known at all levels of government.
We are a-political, bi-partisan, member-funded, not-for-profit organisation. We support the Australasian Railway Association with its important work for the rail sector.
For all manufacturers, SEMMA will continue to advocate for a freeze on land tax, payroll tax and work cover premiums for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). We will continue to ask the regulators to do their job when it comes to Local Jobs First content and to toughen anti-dumping laws.
We are also known for our ability to connect businesses – our members do not feel the need to compete.
SEMMA’s network gives members complementary channels that enable them to engage like-minded businesses, so they can build up strong partnerships, bounce ideas off each other and learn.
With manufacturing playing a foundational role in supporting the economy for many decades, it is time to recognise and acknowledge the significant contribution of the industry to the Australian way of life.
While SEMMA is based in the southeast of Melbourne, we have an eye on the national economy and our place in it.
Recently, the southeast of Melbourne was acknowledged as the manufacturing powerhouse of Australia in a report from Deloitte.
The southeast region contributes $89 billion to the economy, employing 75,400 people through 3801 manufacturers.
Nationally, manufacturing is the sixth largest industry, generating $137 billion in value-added output and employing 930,000 people. It contributes 12.4 per cent of Australia’s exports and 7.9 per cent of capital expenditure (AI Group, 2024).
We believe there is enough manufacturing opportunity to go around – but government policy must help, not hinder, our smart, secure and sustainable manufacturers.
