The Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) concluded yesterday for 2026, with the host state, Queensland, featuring prominently throughout the event this week.
Located in the middle of the pavilion, the Queensland section remained crowded on Thursday 14 May — the last day of the conference.
The Queensland Government has focused on backing local manufacturing ventures, particularly the sector that supplies equipment to the mining industry.
Mining was the state’s largest industry over the 2023–24 financial year, with a nominal gross value added (GVA) of $61.6 billion. This contribution equals 12.9% of Queensland’s total GVA for this period.
On 6 May, the Queensland Government delivered a new regional plan to drive growth in the mining and resources sector in Far North Queensland, intended to balance new housing, jobs, and economic development in partnership with eight local councils.
The manufacturing sector is a cornerstone for the mining industry, providing the machinery and equipment Queensland needs to extract its abundant, globally demanded minerals.
Manufacturing contributed $29 billion to Queensland’s GVA last year and employed 175,000 people, making it the state’s 8th-largest industry by employment.
The three-day event was predicted to attract more than 7,000 attendees and feature exhibitors from the mining equipment, food and beverage production, and aerospace technology industries.
Queensland is promoting the Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grants Program to support local manufacturers, with $79.1 million available in grants over three years.
Round one for grant funding closed last month, with $12.5 million available. Eligible businesses were able to apply for up to $1.5 million in matched grants.
The Australian Manufacturing Week, hosted by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited, was held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 12–14 May 2026. Mining.com.au was in attendance at the event.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au
