Australia’s federal government will direct $1 million to the country’s peak fashion and textiles body to fund the development of an Australian fashion certification trademark, it announced as part of its annual budget.

Christian Porter, the country’s Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, said in a statement that the trademark, to be developed by the Australian Fashion Council, will promote the “high quality of locally designed and produced products to key overseas markets”.

Leila Naja Hibri, chief executive of the Australian Fashion Council, told Vogue Australia that a trademark will help position Australian fashion as a brand it its own right.

“Our lifestyle is one of the things that really sells us as an Australian brand in terms of fashion. Also our Australian heritage, our ethnic diversity, and our creativity, which is a little out-of-the-box — it’s different to what other countries bring to the table,” Naja Hibri said.