Buy Australian: There has never been a better time to support our local growers and makers
Nine in 10 Australians say they would buy a product made in this country if it helped save a business. Learn how to be part of a growing movement to Buy Australian first.
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Now, more than ever, we should be putting money back in to our economy and investing in Australian producers, makers and manufacturers.
In doing so, we’re investing our future.
In exclusive research conducted by Humaniti for News Corp Australia’s Buy Australian campaign, nine in 10 consumers said they would buy a product made in this country if it helped save a business.
The survey also found the onset of COVID-19 had been a catalyst for more than 70 per cent of Aussies wanting to purchase goods made here, with almost 90 per cent saying it was important to see their dollars going back into our economy.
This is what the Buy Australian campaign is about: helping the groundswell of support reach our producers and manufacturers, while supporting local jobs and steering our country out of economic recession.
Australian Made Campaign CEO Ben Lazzaro said the company’s famous Australian Made, Australian Grown logo had helped thousands of brands communicate their credentials for more than 30 years.
“There are [thousands of] businesses that use the brand and even though the Australian Made logo’s job is to show country of origin, it conveys other attributes,” Mr Lazzaro said.
He said Roy Morgan research found 97 per cent of Australians think the Australian Made logo is associated with supporting local jobs and employment, and 95 per cent associated it with quality.
“Australia has some of the highest manufacturing standards in the world … but COVID has highlighted our over reliance on imports and there is a massive opportunity now to shift the needle back to Australia,” Mr Lazzaro said.
“Consumers are researching more. We’re finding younger audiences are actually looking at things like sustainable and ethical labour, food miles, they are much more invested in their purchases that play into the hands of Australian manufacturers.”
Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said the supermarket giant’s Australian First Sourcing Policy meant 100 per cent of fresh meat, chicken, eggs and meat and 96 per cent on fresh fruit and vegetables sold in stores were locally source.
“Woolworths has always had a close connection to Australian farmers and businesses, working together to bring their produce and products into the homes of millions of Australian consumers every week,” Mr Banducci said.
“We partner with thousands of Australian suppliers to provide our customers with high-quality locally made products and we’re working to deepen our partnerships with Australian businesses to continue growing our vibrant local food and beverage industry.”
Red Energy – owned by Australian company Snowy Hydro – CEO Iain Graham said we all played a part in helping to rebuild our economy and their company was committed to assuming its own role in doing so.
“The pandemic forced some changes in our own workforce at Red,” he said.
“Some jobs were not possible. Instead of standing down employees we took the decision to re-skill and redeploy about 120 people into customer service and back office roles to support an increase in customer queries during these unprecedented times.”
Originally published as Buy Australian: There has never been a better time to support our local growers and makers