A BANORA Point business owner and innovator is calling on Australia’s political parties to stand up for Australian production ahead of Saturday’s Federal Election.

Andrew Cottle, who pioneered the Window WeatherGuard product, said urgent action was needed to assist manufacturing in the country, to prevent Australian innovation and their founders from ending up on the scrap heap, or in a foreign country which has manufacturing abilities.

Mr Cottle wants a party representative to visit the production factory he uses in Marcoola, to recognise the crucial importance of re-growing manufacturing in Australia.

“My simple request with the Australian Government is to visit the factory and say ‘good on you, mate... Australian manufacturing is our future’,” Mr Cottle said.

“It’s at the coal-face of acknowledgement, while at the same time letting Australians know that in most cases, actions speak louder than words.”

Mr Cottle said it currently takes 10 years on average for an innovation conception to reach the retail shelf, resulting in a large hit to the economy and jobs market, not to mention the manufacturing industry.

He said he was buoyed by the prospect of what an impact a firm focus being placed on manufacturing could have.

“As challenging as things can sometimes be, I’m more than ever convinced that as a team, a nation, a group, we truly do have the ability, knowledge and skills to implement the changes we need.”

Window WeatherGuard is an Australian owned and patented world first, which has won numerous awards while contributing to the local economy.