AU government expedites 'billions in capital' for disrupted businesses
Support includes Net Zero Fund and Economic Resilience Programme.
A total of $4.37b (AU$6.15b) in concessional capital will soon be available to Australian businesses being impacted by international disruptions.
"The AU$1b Economic Resilience Programme (ERP), AU$5b Net Zero Fund, and AU$150m in concessional finance under the Forestry Growth Fund will open shortly to provide a greater scope of support and concessional finance to Australian businesses," the government announced, citing manufacturing and supply chain operations as the main beneficiaries of the expedited funding.
The concessional capital will help businesses via the following:
- ERP - providing zero interest loans in support of transportation and critical production activities;
- Net Zero Fund - backing new manufacturing investment and energy efficiency improvement;
- Forestry Growth Fund - supporting timber processing and investment in facilities such as mills.
"Businesses right across the country in dozens of industries are under severe pressure because of unprecedented events overseas," Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres commented.
"By bringing forward AU$6.15b in capital, the National Reconstruction Fund can more quickly support businesses to increase production, capability, and capacity."
The Net Zero Fund, for instance, was originally planned for a mid-2026 rollout. Part of it will go towards low carbon liquid fuels production and scaling domestic manufacturing capabilities in clean energy supply chains.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "We are unlocking billions in capital to keep our economy moving forward.
"Unprecedented events overseas continue to disrupt businesses here at home – the Economic Resilience Programme is about investing in more production for fuel, fertiliser, and logistics."
According to Albanese, the goal is to get the money "flowing well ahead of schedule" to support Australian industries.
