Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:13): The Andrews Labor government’s investment in research and infrastructure at our universities is significant and unprecedented, not just here in Victoria but also recognised across Australia. Earlier this week you may have heard the University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor express his admiration for the way in which Victoria’s universities had worked collaboratively with the Victorian government to achieve our shared aims. Today I would like to tell the house about another brilliant example of this. Minister Pulford and I announced a $16.1 million investment in three projects at Monash University that will enhance their medicine manufacturing capacity, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Monash University will produce Australia’s first mRNA vaccine for clinical trials. The expansion of the centre will enhance collaboration between scientists and medicine manufacturers, ensuring Victoria continues to lead the way in medicine manufacturing. The oNKo-innate hub will drive innovation in cancer therapies and the creation and commercialisation of treatments, and the Up-link university partner collaboration space will be a home for startups to digitally streamline smart manufacturing. It is the first component of the larger Monash Smart Manufacturing Hub, and it will drive increased research, commercialisation and entrepreneurship. This hub will create jobs and greater opportunities for students. These projects will save people’s lives, and we are so proud to support them.