The Machine Tools and Robotics Industries

About the Inquiry

The Industry Commission was asked to report on the appropriateness of the current definitions of eligible equipment and eligible recipients in the Bounty (Machine Tools and Robots) Act 1985 and on any possible anomalies in the treatment of different goods, and in particular the provisions of the bounty scheme which allow bounty to be paid on certain parts (viz parts for robotic machines, computer controllers and Goods AA ie certain goods designed for use solely or principally as a part for a computer controlled machine) without requiring them to be used in the manufacture of bountiable equipment; and provide for bounty payments on modifications to certain systems (viz conveying and assembly equipment and computer hardware and software which are not necessarily associated with machine tools or robots).

The commission was also asked to:

• report on the effectiveness of the Machine Tools and Robots Bounty Scheme;
• identify and report on areas of overlap between this form of assistance and other measures which are available to the industry;
• identify and report on key factors affecting industry development and ways to encourage and improve efficiency and international competitiveness of the industry; and
• advise whether assistance should continue to be accorded to the production of machine tools and robots after the current bounty scheme terminates on 30 June 1997 and, if so, the nature and extent of such assistance, including capitalisation of bounty.