Here you will find information on efforts by the Department and industry to enhance the long term sustainability and international competitiveness of the Australian TCF industries.
TCF Innovation Package
On 12 May 2009, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced the TCF Innovation Package in response to Professor Roy Green's Review of the TCF Industries. Under the package, the Australian Government:
- Will introduce a new $30.0 million TCF Strategic Capability Program to support large projects that will boost innovation capacity and performance at the enterprise level. The 2010-11 Budget provides an additional $5 million in 2010-11 for the Program, bringing the total value to over $35 million over five years
- Has established a Clothing and Household Textile Building Innovative Capability Program to support investment and innovation – based on the TCF Strategic Investment Program, with $25.0 million in additional funding
- Has established a TCF Industries Innovation Council bringing together business, unions, researchers and government to champion innovation in the sector and provide strategic advice
- Will establish a National TCF Innovation Network within Enterprise Connect to support collaboration between companies and between industry, researchers and educational institutions
- Will retain the TCF Small Business Program, to improve business enterprise culture
- Has commissioned the TCF Industries Innovation Council to provide further advice on the introduction of a voluntary ethical quality mark, voluntary national sizing standards for clothing and footwear, and a national anthropometric (human measurement) database
- Will proceed with the TCF tariff reductions already enshrined in legislation.
Clothing and household textile (building innovative capability) scheme
The Clothing and Household Textile (Building Innovative Capability) scheme ("BIC scheme") will replace the TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme from the 2010-11 program year. The $112.5 million BIC scheme is aimed at fostering the development of a sustainable and internationally competitive clothing and household textile manufacturing and design industry in Australia, by providing incentives to promote innovation and associated investment.
Further information on the BIC scheme is avaible from AusIndustry.
TCF Post-2005 Assistance Package
On 27 November 2003, a $747 million package of assistance for the TCF industries was announced.
As a result, the Government formulated:
- The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Post-2005 Strategic Investment Program Scheme, also known as the TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme
- The Product Diversification Scheme
- The TCF Structural Adjustment Program
- The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program Determination 2005
- The Expanded Overseas Assembly Provisions scheme (extended until 2010).
TCF Strategic Investment Program Scheme
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Post-2005 Strategic Investment Program Scheme (TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme) is formulated under the authority of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Investment and Innovation Programs Act 1999. It is a non-competitive grant scheme to promote capital investment and innovation in Australia’s TCF industries. The TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme came into effect on 1 July 2005 and is now planned to cease on 30 June 2010. The Government has announced that the Scheme will be replaced by the Clothing and Household Textile Building Innovative Capability Program for the 2010-11 to 2014-15 program years.
Product Diversification Scheme
The objectives of the Product Diversification Scheme are to assist clothing and finished textile manufacturers internationalise their sourcing arrangements and complement their existing product range. The attached document sets out the Terms and Conditions of the Product Diversification Scheme. The Government has announced that the Product Diversification Scheme will be discontinued. 2010-11 will be the final year in which duty credit is provided under the Scheme.
TCF Structural Adjustment Program
The TCF Structural Adjustment Program supports further TCF industry consolidation and labour market adjustment. The program has two elements:
- Labour adjustment assistance through the Job Network
- A Restructuring Initiative Grant Scheme.
An application for approval of a restructuring initiative must be made by all eligible entities intending to apply for a grant under the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Restructuring Initiative Grant Scheme (TCF RIG Scheme).
TCF Expanded Overseas Assembly Provisions scheme (EOAP)
The scheme allows registered Australian TCF manufacturing or design firms, who use predominantly Australian fabric or leather, to assemble certain apparel and footwear articles overseas. The assembled goods can then be brought back into Australia for local consumption with duty payable only on the cost of the overseas processing and content. The EOAP is scheduled to end on 30 June 2010.
TCF Small Business Program
The Program is a competitive grants program providing grants to small TCF businesses to improve their enterprise culture. The Program provides support to small TCF businesses undertaking the design or production of TCF products as defined in the TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme, but which do not qualify for a grant under that Scheme.
TCF Corporate Wear
The Textile, Clothing & Footwear Corporate Wear Register enables employers to register non-compulsory occupational clothing, thereby avoiding liability for Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) where the clothing has been provided free or at subsidised cost to employees. Employees also benefit from the provision by becoming eligible for tax deductions for expenses incurred from rental, purchase, or maintenance of such clothing.
For further information, see AusIndustry's Fact Sheet: TCF Corporate Wear Scheme
For additional information on the TCF (SIP) Scheme, the TCF Expanded Overseas Assembly Provisions Scheme and the TCF Corporate Wear Scheme, please visit AusIndustry's textiles clothing and footwear (TCF) web page.
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Provisions) Scheme (SPARTECA (TCF Provisions) Scheme)
In addition to the efforts by the Department and industry to enhance the long term sustainability and international competitiveness of Australia's TCF industry, the Department also administers the SPARTECA (TCF Provisions) Scheme.