Scott Morrison is finally warming to producing next generation vaccines locally after previously dismissing the emerging technology as mere "science fiction".
The prime minister has approached the market for expressions of interest in manufacturing mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines in Australia.
"We've called for those proposals to come forward to find out exactly what is needed from those proponents to see these facilities and capabilities being established here in Australia," he told reporters on Friday.
"That will be done as a partnership between industry and government."
Mr Morrison said the purpose was not just to deliver coronavirus vaccines.
"What we've seen with the mRNA vaccines is they are the new technology, they are the new way of doing vaccines around the world," he said.
"Eighteen months ago, apart from some trial treatments in HIV, this was largely science fiction."
He said the government would move quickly to establish the manufacturing plants.
"Not just for now but for the long term and for many other vaccines that will be done through mRNA, not just COVID. This is a long-term plan with short- and medium-term benefits."
Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles said the government should have made the decision last year.
"In the midst of its self-congratulation last year they were complacent in the failure to put Australia properly in the queues of the various vaccine projects around the world," he said.
"They bet the house on AstraZeneca being able to do the job here and now what you see in the messaging the government is giving is an almost undermining of people having confidence in AstraZeneca."
The mRNA vaccines teach cells how to make a protein to trigger an immune response.
Moderna and Pfizer are both leading examples.
The mRNA technology has the potential to treat many other conditions including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
But Australia does not have the domestic capacity to manufacture such a jab.
Industry Minister Christian Porter said mRNA vaccines were an extremely promising branch of medical science.
"However our market analysis also shows there are gaps and challenges to scale up, which mean it's not currently possible to commercially manufacture mRNA treatments locally," he said.
"The government is inviting key commercial providers and potential providers to demonstrate their future capability and explain what government involvement, assistance or support could make that capacity a reality."
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the market approach was an important step in future-proofing Australia.
"What everybody has learnt out of this is we just don't know what the future holds," he said.
"It means there is production onshore so whatever happens into the future offshore, we can contribute to our domestic requirements, and I think it is a prudent approach."
The government has asked interested parties to submit fully costed proposals to establish mRNA capability, with submissions open for eight weeks.
Applicants need to demonstrate access to necessary intellectual property for manufacturing processes and make products available to the Australian government as required and in priority over other markets.
Manufacturers will need to deliver secure supplies of population-scale mRNA vaccines, including the ability to scale up production to respond to reasonably foreseeable health emergencies.
Any operation would need to be sustained over 10 years with an undertaking to maintain the capability onshore on an ongoing basis.
