Our department’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
See Australia.gov.au for whole of Australian Government COVID-19 advice.
COVID-19 news
News about how our department’s responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
You can read about our department’s COVID-19 response.
Go to Australia.gov.au for the latest whole-of-government COVID-19 advice.
Read COVID-19 ministerial media releases on the minister.industry.gov.au website.
New Australian standard helps COVID-19 hotspot detection
News
22 December 2020
Identifying COVID-19 infections has become more reliable with the release this week of the National Measurement Institute (NMI)’s new reference standard for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Buying personal protection equipment: what to look for
News
30 October 2020
COVID-19 has increased the demand for personal protective equipment. We have developed a buyers guide to help you make decisions when buying personal protective equipment.
Hand sanitiser in Australia
News
1 October 2020
Our department worked with industry to analyse the market for hand sanitiser. Read about the supply chain constraints, regulatory issues and consumer behaviours.
Onshore manufacturing agreement for COVID-19 vaccines
News
7 September 2020
Australians will have free access to two locally made products should trials prove successful.
Supporting COVID-19 recovery in northern Australia
News
26 August 2020
The Office of Northern Australia has pivoted efforts to relief and recovery to help support and develop the north.
Pandemic relief as energy network costs deferred
News
13 August 2020
Rule change means certain retailers can temporarily defer 40 per cent or more of costs, passing on savings to consumers.
Call for future vaccine and treatment manufacturers
News
13 August 2020
Urgently seeking Australian businesses who could pivot to produce life-saving medicines in the fight against COVID-19.
Mask testing centre means faster protection for health workers
News
12 August 2020
Manufacturers will use the mask testing centre to ensure personal protective equipment meets strict Australian standards.
Australia in good hands thanks to stringent sanitiser testing
News
6 August 2020
The National Measurement Institute helps Australians stay safe by testing that hand sanitiser is effective against COVID-19, informing investigations into sub-standard products.
Australian-made ventilators delivered quickly
News
6 August 2020
Australian Government joins forces with a consortium of local manufacturers and engineers to rapidly produce life-saving machines for the National Medical Stockpile
Hand sanitiser regulatory and market update
News
16 June 2020
COVID-19 created surge in demand for hand sanitiser. The government responded by making important changes and actions to support the industry.
Matchmaking platform unlocks business potential during COVID-19
News
19 May 2020
The COVID-19 Manufacturer Response Register connects manufacturers, suppliers and customers via a self-managed online asset.
National Measurement Institute helping industry respond to COVID-19
News
30 April 2020
Australia’s National Measurement Institute’s testing and measurement services are supporting industry to effectively and rapidly respond to the challenge.
Making and supplying 1000 emergency hospital beds a week in the fight against COVID-19
News
30 April 2020
Four Australian-owned and operated manufacturers team up with global med-tech firm and use local supply chains to make emergency hospital beds in response to COVID-19.
Flexibility for offshore oil and gas explorers during COVID-19
News
24 April 2020
New measures will enable explorers to meet ongoing work program commitments during the pandemic.
How space is helping the world respond to COVID-19
News
22 April 2020
The scale of COVID-19 demands industries support the global fight. The space industry is helping us visualise the impact and stay connected.
Call for Australian manufacturers to produce primers, probes and other reagents for COVID-19 RT-PCR testing
News
9 April 2020
Are you an Australian manufacturer with the capability to produce probes, primers and other reagents for laboratory diagnostics? We want to hear from you.
Notice for Australian manufacturers of new ventilators
News
8 April 2020
If you are an Australian manufacturer who can produce ventilators for use in Australia’s response to COVID-19, please note the new minimum technical requirements.
Call for Australian manufacturers to supply COVID-19 test kit components
News
3 April 2020
Are you an Australian manufacturer with the capability to produce inputs for COVID-19 RNA extraction? Do you have support to scale up your production? We want to hear from you.
Call for expressions of interest to supply COVID-19 sample collection swabs
News
20 March 2020
Our department is seeking producers and suppliers capable of supplying swabs for collecting COVID‑19 samples.
Call for information on manufacturing medical personal protective equipment
News
18 March 2020
Our department is mapping domestic production capability of medical personal protective equipment (PPE) and seeks information from producers and suppliers.