US tariffs spur “buy local” advice from PM

The Australian Made Campaign (AMCL) has welcomed the prime minister’s encouragement for the nation to buy local, as well as reports that the next budget will have an “Australian made” focus.

Prime minister Albanese has not supported retaliatory tariffs or boycotts after this week’s news that the US will not exempt Australia from 25 per cent tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, instead urging the country to “buy local”.

“Australians can have an impact by buying Australian goods,” the PM told ABC Melbourne on Wednesday. 

“Buy Bundy rather than some of the American products … You can make a difference.” 

AMCL’s Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro said on Friday that a strategic approach to “buy local” initiatives covering consumers, business, and all tiers of government is needed. 

He singled out federal government contracts worth an estimated $100 billion last financial year, and the potential “enormous impact” favouring local suppliers in this could have.

“Improving government and business local procurement policies can benefit all Australians,” said Lazzaro in a statement. 

“It can help strengthen the local economy and enhance the reputation and resilience of businesses, all the while creating local jobs, promoting innovation, and reducing the environmental impacts associated with long-distance transportation.”

https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1900096416107671891

AMCL, which licenses the Australian Made logo and its variants, cited polling by Roy Morgan finding more than four in five businesses answering that they buy Australian-made goods wherever possible.  

The federal government recently committed an additional $5 million over three years to promote Australian products internationally.

A federal-level encouragement to buy local was heard following the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. 

In May that year, speaking about a slump in sales by the fashion industry, former industry minister Karen Andrews said, “Now more than ever it’s important we all support Australian-made products where we can because the flow-on effects help keep people in jobs, allow small businesses to become part of previously off-shore supply chains, and open the door for new export markets in the long term.” 

Editors note: Australian Made is an advertiser with @AuManufacturing.

Picture: credit Anthony Albanese/X

Further reading

“Make it here, ship it everywhere”: federal government announces $5 million for Australian Made

Andrews says buying locally important “now more than ever”

My (improbable) faith in Australian manufacturing – by Ed Husic