Footwear association unhappy with TCF policy
The Footwear Manufacturers' Association of Australia (FMAA) and the Technical Textile & Nonwoven Association (TTNA) have reacted angrily to the Australian government’s $30 million textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) "strategic capability" programme.
According to FMAA executive director, Peter Eames, it is unclear where footwear fits into the TCF package. He also claims it shows a complete lack of understanding about the labour-intensive footwear sector.
However, industry minister Kim Carr defended the government’s actions saying it continued to support the TCF sector and that it has given it an additional $10 million. He told BusinessDay that the government had “refocused some of the programme to provide extra assistance to the industry" and that "the entire sector will have access to the new strategic capability programme”.
