The Australian Made campaign is calling upon consumers to buy local or face further job losses in light of the recent announcements from Ford and Holden that they will no longer be manufacturing cars in Australia past 2017.
Key food manufacturers in Australia including SPC Ardmona, Simplot and McCain have felt the pressure from cheaper imports resulting the slashing of local contracts in order to cut costs and compete in the marketplace.
Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison said that Ford and Holden have now joined the long line of companies that have made the decision to manufacture offshore rather than locally – including food giant Heniz.
“The real disappointment is that consumers in Australia seem not to understand that there will be consequences when they elect to buy imported products, as they have done with motor cars,” Harrison said.
“Continuing on this trajectory will have dire consequences for Australian industry, Australian jobs and Australian communities.”
Harrison says that it is imperative that consumers support local manufacturers and buy local to secure a sustainable future for the Nation’s manufacturing sector.
“Our message to consumers is to invest in great Australian products and produce, to help build a sustainable future, or risk losing more industries and more jobs, putting pressure on the entire economy and families all over the country,” says Harrison.
“We hope that this confronting truth will make consumers stop and think about the knock-on effects of their purchasing decisions before buying.”