LOCALS TO FILL THE MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN

Wednesday, 1 April 2020

By The Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP

The NSW Government is calling on manufacturers around the State to help fill gaps in the global supply of medical equipment and hygiene products, redeploying spare capacity to save lives and jobs.    Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton MP said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for local supply and manufacturing businesses to further contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and keep their businesses running.  
 
“We all want to help during this challenging time and this may encourage businesses to diversify their supply or develop these essential products for those on the front line”. 
 
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres launched the portal for companies to offer to build parts or supply eight urgently needed items during the COVID-19 crisis.    Ms Berejiklian said the world was running short on hand sanitiser, handwash soap, gloves, cleaning products, protective clothing, masks, eyewear and paper products.    “This is a call to arms for NSW manufacturers to look at ways to convert production lines into making the items we so desperately need,” Ms Berejiklian said.    “We have the ability within NSW to meet our local demand and the Government is moving to help manufacturers re-tool quickly to achieve this.     With supply of Personal Protective Equipment and disinfectant expected to be constrained for at least 12 months, further opportunities exist for other NSW companies to join them.    Mr Ayres said the Government will use information provided through the portal to connect the supply chain so more finished products can be provided where needed.     “We will work to find solutions to provide our hospitals and our people with the protection they need, while keeping as many workers as possible in a job,” Mr Ayres said.    Businesses can register their interest through the portal at nsw.gov.au.