Spinning mill blueprint could provide path to manufacturing revival

Australia’s chief science agency has drawn up a possible route back to domestic spinning mills, a manufacturing link that disappeared from the country’s clothing supply chain in the 1980s.

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It provides a reasonably objective template for people to run a more focused business case

The CSIRO study offers manufacturers a template for assessing whether a mill could work and scaling the plan to their needs. Spinning mills turn cotton, wool or synthetic fibres such as polyester into yarn and thread, which can then become textiles and clothing.

The study considered electricity costs, worker shortages and possible locations. It identified Toowoomba and Brisbane in Queensland, Narrabri, Dubbo and Sydney in New South Wales, and locations in Victoria as potential sites. The project received funding from the cotton industry and the federal government through the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

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The industry is very clear they want the capability to be able to take our Australian-grown cotton and wool all the way from farm to finished garment here

Fashion industry leaders want Australia to rebuild the full chain from locally grown cotton and wool to finished garments. Australian Fashion Council chief executive Sam Delgos said the country currently sends raw cotton overseas, including to China, for spinning. She said every stage missing from Australia represents lost value, jobs and supply-chain traceability. The industry is also calling for the nation’s largest uniform buyer to guarantee demand for Australian-made products, while warning that significant investment would still be needed.

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Every stage of that process that we're not doing in Australia is values, jobs and of course traceability of our supply chain that we're handing over to another country.