Commanding the Narrative Newsletter 49
This Sunday, Australians for Better Government will expand its movement to South Australia with our first event in Adelaide.
In preparation for the event, I have been doing some research on the decline of manufacturing in South Australia. As many have said, all the problems we face in this country are the result of bad Government, and of course, this common theme continues in the manufacturing sector.
It was not the quality of our products, or the workmanship of those who made them, it was the inadequate politicians, on both sides of the aisle, who allowed our manufacturing sector to die on the vine.
Government intervention - or lack thereof - played a role in Australia's manufacturing decline, through a complex mix of factors.
Historically, Australian governments supported manufacturing, including Adelaide’s automotive sector, through tariffs and subsidies.
However, from the 1980s, federal policies shifted toward free-market reforms, reducing tariffs and subsidies (e.g. the Button Plan, 1984), exposing Australia’s industries to global competition.
Government decisions to enter free trade agreements, such as with Japan and China in the 2000s, further reduced trade barriers.
Of course, while Government policy was significant, global trends like automation, rising labor costs, and supply chain shifts to Asia did contribute. However, while Australia’s manufacturing was not solely reliant on Government support, its withdrawal accelerated the decline.
With this in mind, Australians for Better Government asks the question - were the Australian people ever consulted on the free-trade agreements and the shift in Government policy that led to the decline in our manufacturing sector?
Would the Australian people have supported these free-trade agreements and the removal of tariffs knowing that it would lead to job losses in manufacturing?
This is an example of why ABG supports the requirement of Government to seek a successful binding plebiscite with the Australian people when it wishes to sign up to an international treaty.
The Australian people are entitled to a greater say in decisions like these. Especially when they have such an impact on jobs, our economy and living standards here in Australia.
Until next week, stay active and never back down!
Many thanks,
Steven Tripp
Commanding the Narrative - Breaking Down the Madness of Modern Australia - With Carlz Soda:
I had a great discussion on Commanding the Narrative with Carlz Soda, of the Oddcast podcast.
Carlz stepped into the limelight during the COVID pandemic, when her emotional online videos, speaking of her struggles as a small business owner in lockdown Melbourne, struck a chord. Since then, Carlz has grown into a reluctant, but widely recognised political commentator and has joined forces with Topher Field on the Oddcast.
Commanding the Narrative -
Escape from Australia - Do Aussies Need a Plan B? - With Paul Kittson & Shane Caudwell:
A few weeks ago we did a podcast called ‘Is Australia on a Highway to Hell?’, where we examined the trajectory this country is in under the current leadership.
I felt this episode was a sequel to Highway to Hell, as I interviewed Paul Kittson from Plan B Paraguay.
Through his work with Plan B, Paul is busy helping people from around the world immigrate to Paraguay. If you have ever considered leaving Australia, this episode is well worth a listen.