What happens when you buy cheap imports???

[catsnknots]

We end up with no choice but to buy those foreign imports... 

If we don't take action and support our industries then we will be left unable to feed ourselves .. it is happening one item at a time. 

I am really sorry that this has happened in Tasmania..

I shop at Aldi but can't get aussie peas there so I buy them at Woolies.... I make the specific trip to buy aussie items to support our local growers... 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/pea-growers-frozen-out/4682444?&section=news

I wish there was more that I could do... but I am just one person out of 20 million.... 

I will continue to buy my Aussie peas and I hope that others take 20 seconds out to read the back of the pack and make sure your produce is 100% aussie grown and packed... 

[cherry*135]

am - spinach is the easiest vege to grow. We grow heaps and freeze our own. It keeps for ages.

Yes, that is what my daughter said when I was whinging about importing spinach.. grow you own. I don't have room at present for a vege patch.

[i-need-a-martini]

You can grow spinach in pots if that helps?

[cherry*135]

Import tax on tinned tomatoes or other imported food products - would only mean more income for the Govt

Tinned tomatoes (imported and domestic) would then all be the same higher price (some people buy the cheaper imported food because that is all they can afford).

Doesn't really solve anything imo.

[lakeland27]

coles and woolies have made it unviable for many producers, retailers started this.. big ones.

write them a stern letter.

[just_me_karen]

You can grow enough spinach (silver beet) in a pot plant to feed one person, and it'll last a lot longer if you move it to a sunny spot during the colder months. The more you pick the leaves, the more it grows. It's an excellent staple green veggie.

Fishermen get paid the same amount for their catch as they did in the 80s, yet prices have skyrocketed in our shops. Same for sheep farmers.

[cueperkins]

I haven't read this thread...suffice to say about imports vs Aussie made, that...ONCE UPON A TIME...you could buy BONDS COTTON TRACKIES in this country and be sure they were 100% cotton.   (you know Bonds...they originated here....way back when we had manufacturing in this country)

Then they moved production out of a semi RURAL Aussie area and gave 100's of jobs to China .....(hey maybe China would accept some Aussies as economic refugees since all our jobs are now there??)........The point is, what can we do if our Aussie brands are all jumping ship?....are you barking up the wrong tree?

Meanwhile, Bonds are now COTTON BLEND (or expensive as sin in 100% cotton) = polyester in 'em....arrrrrrrrghghghghghghgh........give me a break.....and you can't buy them in many rural Oz locations......WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BUY COTTON TRACKIES? 

That kids, is the difference between Aussie Made and Not Aussie Made....problem is....where is Aussie made...made these days?  China?

As above, I'm sure we'd buy 'Aussie Made' if it was...but even our Aussie brands aren't anymore.

[i-need-a-martini]

I almost agree with cat - I think our primary and manufacturing industries could use the kind of boost that a return to tariffs would give them.

But then again it would be a disaster for our overall economy. I understand why Keating opened up the markets and again why Howard dropped all remaining tariffs more recently. It gave the gave the country real economic boosts. In Keatings time when we needed it most (during the recession) and for Howard to inject a wad of money into the economy.

But long term it has hurt those industries that needed some protection.

[i-need-a-martini]

cue - we buy Aussiebums. Same designs as Bonds albeit a little more expensive.

[cueperkins]

"We end up with no choice but to buy those foreign imports.."

Exactly my point too OP....Well said.

[cueperkins]

Thanks Martini...I'll look 'em up.......I REFUSE to buy polyester track pants...like WHO DOES THAT?. 

Cotton was always used in Aussie trackies for a reason....I won't buy the OS BS mass produced stuff because I seriously can't wear it.  It doesn't absorb sweat so you end up feeling like you're wearing GLADWRAP pants.  :_|