Victorian Government to look at how it can support local mask manufacturing - Riverine Herald

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has intervened and directed his department to consider how support for Goulburn Valley mask manufacturer Med-Con can be extended.

The Lemnos-based face mask manufacturer has shed 90 staff since November, after demand for Australian-made surgical grade masks dropped in favour of importing cheaper products.

The plight of the company, which ramped up production at the start of the pandemic when international supply chains failed due to global demand, was raised in Parliament by State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed and Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh.

During question time on Wednesday, Mr Walsh asked why the Victorian Government, which had encouraged Med-Con to dramatically scale up their production from 2 million to 6 million masks was now looking to source cheaper product from China.

Mr Foley’s response suggested the outcome is likely to be better for Med-Con.

“On the basis of representations made by the Member for Shepparton I have asked my department and the health agencies — including those engaged with the Commonwealth — as to how this important local manufacturing capacity can be both supported and extended by Victorian Government and indeed national government purchasing when it comes to PPE and other arrangements, and I look forward to that matter being resolved in the very near future,” he said.

Mr Foley was pressed further over a Health Purchasing Victoria document that said it was seeking pricing based solely on supply chain efficiencies.

“Yes, efficiency is a part of the equation, and yes, access to local support is also part of the equation,” he said.

“I am confident that the processes that I have asked my department to put in place will balance all of those necessary factors in their decision-making and in their purchasing policy, as is in fact part of Victorian Government purchasing policy more broadly to support local innovation and to support local, particularly when it comes to PPE and related equipment, in the way that the honourable member has foreshadowed.”

Med-Con chief executive Steven Csiszar said he was buoyed by the health minister’s statements.

“That sounds fantastic, it is very promising,” he said.

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Victorian Government to look at how it can support local mask manufacturing - Riverine Herald
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