Thread: Is Australian Made beneficial to Australia

It is very benificial,

We like to think that here in Aussi we make some very special products,but like most westeren countries,our services and products are slipping.

We are trying to compete with countries like China, Korea, Tiawan,.
In the early days USA had the same problem competeing with Japan,but the difference is they diddent let that deter them from keeping up there standard and quality.

This is the thing that so them threw this period,and now look at Japan they are not the same leader as they where the USA are slowly winning back trade.

And that is what we must do,keep up our standard and quality and we will come threw,after all are those countries useing up there resouses at a more massive rate than we are.

I have had cause in the last few weeks to be very frustrated at the quality of the goods and services we produce.

Roddy

Originally Posted by echnidna

The concept of Australian Made sounds great but has it outlived its usefullness?

We have
1. Greatly reduced import restrictions combined with
2. Very low unemployment

If we encourage local manufacturing, where are we going to get the workers to make aussie made stuff. -- Immigration etc

I can't see how it would help. How do consumers know that a product is 100% Australian owned and manufactured? Labels are a waste of time, as there are always workarounds and loopholes. How do consumers know whether the Australian company is a subsidiary of some other local or offshore company. There's a level of invisibility. How do consumers know whether the Australian company is involved in activities that they may not agree with, which is problematic because that applies to everything we buy anyway. Multinational companies rule the world and it's difficult running small and local shops. So who benefits? How many accountants are rich compared to those who think they know enough to make a small fortune (just an example, I have nothing against accountants and this is not intended to stereotype anyone)? With Australia further opening up it's doors to the US, my question is what does Australia and Australian owned actually mean anymore. If we believe everything we are bombarded with in the media or what universities are teaching about economics and everything else, then this is a sorry scenario indeed.

We bought some 44 gall drums recently to resell.

All drums were marked "SPC", a fine Ozzie company.
The drums were marked "Product of Spain, tomato pulp/bits/juice"

So, even if you think you are helping out local producers, your not.
I even advised the missus before the drum episode to buy SPC so as we could help out the local growers in Shepp.

Now we just buy the cheapest, sad isnt it?

Al

Forgive me if I offend; I've only been in Australia since 1993.

However, I note that this (terrific!) country does seem to focus on exporting raw materials (whether they be minerals, timber, petroleum products, etc) rather than adding value through some form of manufacturing or finishing process.

Some countries, notably Taiwan and Japan, have relatively few natural resources of their own, but are very good at the manufacturing & "value adding" procceses. In my modest opinion, as a nation we would be better advantaged were we to utilise our own natural resources, and apply some "value add" of our own.

Australia certainly isn't short of the talent and knowledge-base to achieve this, and we wouldn't have to apply any kind of "sweat-shop" mentality either - just systematic and effective industrial processes, allied with a little creativity.

Happy to discuss further!

Cheers!

What a load a rubbish!!!

Of couse its important to produce our own products etc etc...................Thats what helps perpetuate a solid infastructure and dispite the rehetoric keeps the aussie dollar here where it belongs!!!!!

People who say otherwise just do so to rationalise justify buying their orange juice from brazil ...... or theit bolts from China or etc etc etc etc

Have a look at all the g8 countries OH dear suprise! suprise! guess what they all do Manufature!!!!!! ............... Where ever possible I buy Aussie goods!!!

Cause I'm Bloody prowd to be Australian!!!!

REgards Lou

All companies who are involved either directly or indirectly with the exploitation of all lifeforms through "sweat shop" methodologies are reaping the highest profit. Manufacturing in Australia, from what I've seen over many years, has been moving offshore to reap those high profits.

........I'm wondering why mitsubishi are manufactoring in Australia???

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

wonder if its got anything to do with manufactoring Smarter?????

I'm pretty convinced that you don't need hoards of peasants to build things effectively & economically and even more importantly competitively!!!

BUT what we do need is good infastructure & in 100 years time from now it will be the countries that have the infastructure and manufactoring know how intergrated with High end technology that will be doing BEST!!!

Look at China for example ............... dispite how often chinese goodies get bagged the quality of what they are producing is improving consistantly & in the near future dramatically!!!!

Why? because of the Might of the Chinese Manufactoring Infastructure!! As quality Technology etc etc of the process inproves so does the quality in The Goodies they bring out!!!

.............Some economic forecasts project that in the next 50 years China will be the greatest economic power in the World not only producing quantity BUT quality!!!!

Countries that do not keep up or at least continue to develop will end up in economic wasteland!!!!

Regards EcoLou2u

Originally Posted by NewLou

What a load a rubbish!!!

I don't think so.

Originally Posted by NewLou

Of couse its important to produce our own products etc etc...................Thats what helps perpetuate a solid infastructure and dispite the rehetoric keeps the aussie dollar here where it belongs!!!!!

This is a falacy. Economists that work for multinationals and the govt know whether a high Australian dollar is beneficial to Australia or not and take necessary steps either way.

Originally Posted by NewLou

People who say otherwise just do so to rationalise justify buying their orange juice from brazil ...... or theit bolts from China or etc etc etc etc

No, this is not the case. Though the situation opens up for such rhetorical arguments. The problem is when a company moves offshore to exploit another nation's resources, will you buy those products even though it is an Australian company doing it? If you want to argue against buying products from Brazil, then it should be because you don't support that exploitation right? Companies span nations and control everything. There is no real meaning to so called ordinary civilians in relation to flags - we are treated like consumers being consumed.

Originally Posted by NewLou

Have a look at all the g8 countries OH dear suprise! suprise! guess what they all do Manufature!!!!!! ............... Where ever possible I buy Aussie goods!!!

Yes but how can you confirm, 100%, that they are Australian. Or, how do you know it wasn't an Australian offshore company in Brazil or elsewhere that didn't make a product?

Originally Posted by NewLou

Cause I'm Bloody prowd to be Australian!!!!

REgards Lou

We live in a specific region, boarder lines are an illusion. What does proud to be Australian really mean? If we are party to atrocious acts against innocent people - are you saying that you're proud of that?

BAh!.............

THat kind of Spin Doctoring is just what you'd expect to hear from a politition!!!!

Go do some economic's courses at university & read up on Smith or Keans!!!

..............WHat a load a ROT!!!

I'm a PROWD AUSSIE!!!!

Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!...................OY..............OY..............OY!!!!!


Regards AussieLou2u!!!

I think that the issue is more complex. Australia is roughly the size of the continental US but with a population of 20 million. Having been there and done that, starting out in business, one relies on one's own domestic market. Success here allows you to invest the profits in moving product overseas. In IT we competed directly with Microsoft. Our cost to deliver the product was identical to Bills. Roughly same salaries, rent etc. The difference was he had 250 million punters, we had 18 million (then). Also he had Gov help, we had zilch.

I think that we should concentrate on what we're good at. Primary production, mining and tourism plus some clever, boutique type intellectual property. Its a global economy and we just can't compete in general manufacturing etc.

I'm unsure about buying Oz when it costs more. Should we really be propping up moribund industry? Better to redirect those resources in areas where we kick ****.

This may be an unpopular viewpoint, but cast your mind back to the days of protectionism. Wait 3 months for Telecomm to install a phone? A pair of very ordinary shoes (made in Oz) for 4 x times what we now pay? Leyland p76's? New release books one year after the UK reads them? Wool mountains? TAA/Ansett duopoly - same price, same routes, same timetables??

Lets support Oz businesses but not the braindead, me too type.

No way are we going to manufacture at China's cost - and its not just the bowl of rice a week wages either. Do we really want protectionism back? The world will retaliate, and the 2 of the 3 industries that protect our lifestyle, mining and agriculture, would grieviously suffer.

Sorry, that's enough. A T bone and bottle of red, plus a day of Jarrah dust has got me acting above my station.

Bodgy
"Even fools are right sometimes' WSC

Aussie

I just hate the idea that we let foreign food products into this country. I understand that competition is good, but we do not need to import oranges, apples, potatoes etc.

Maybe I am niave but basic foods just seem to unnecessary as an import.

On the manufacturing side of things, how can we do without it. There are only so many doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professions that produce nothing that a country needs. We cant all do this type of work nor do all want to do it. Manufacturing does not just employ the process worker. There is a huge flow on effect to other professions. Just think about it for a second. For each factory, there are how many managers, receptionists, accountants, lawyers, nurses, IT people etc. If they advertise they engage other services.

To be a smart nation we need to produce more than just services.

But in these days of near record employment WHO is going to work in the factories?

Do we have to create massive immigration!!!