Aussies reveal confronting China norm they want gone
In an era where Chinese imports cost seven times less to produce, Australians are still choosing to pay premium prices for local goods.
We are in the depths of a cost-of-living crisis, but there’s still one thing Aussies are prepared to splash the cash for.
The median house price nationally is more than $900,000; the median rental price for a house nationally is creeping up to $600 a week; and inflation is sitting at 2.1 per cent.
It is quite simply an expensive time to be alive.
But Aussies are still prepared to spend extra on an item if it is made in Australia, with a survey as part of News Australia’s Back Australia campaign finding two in three Aussies (63 per cent) were willing to cough up.
It is no secret a lot of products we buy are now are made overseas.
In 2024, the value of goods imported to Australia from China ballooned to a staggering $22.2 billion.
There is also no getting around the fact it is also more expensive to make things in Australia; our minimum wage is almost $25 an hour.
In comparison, China does not have a single national minimum wage, but some workers are paid as little as $3 an hour.
If businesses choose to keep things Australian-made, it does mean that, generally speaking, consumers end up having to pay more.
But interestingly, Aussies actually don’t mind that much – as long as it is easy to identify locally made goods.
More than four in five Aussies (85 per cent) surveyed by News Corp Australia’s Growth Intelligence Centre (GIC) said they strongly support the introduction of a star rating system to simplify the identification of Australian content.
The idea had support across all demographic groups from Gen Zs to Boomers.
When news.com.au hit the streets of Bondi as part of our Back Australia campaign, we asked Aussies if they’re more inclined to buy something if it is Australian-made.
Despite the fact that we all love a national whinge about the price of basically everything, the answer was overwhelmingly yes.
Real cost of your cheap online order
‘15 years’: Last chance to save Aus way of life
When news.com.au asked one woman and her partner if she was more likely to spend her money if she knew the product was made locally, she didn’t even need to think about it.
“Yes,” she said.
Why?
She explained that is wasn’t because she believed the quality was better but rather because she wants to “help” small businesses.
Similarly, a young woman in a bikini, who is 30, and still living at home, admitted she still wants to support Aussie businesses.
“I’d say so,” she said.
“I try and be considerate with where I shop,” she said.
“I love spending anyway but it is nice to know the money you are spending that you are working so hard for is going towards brands that are putting in the effort to support our local economy.”
Most people who spoke to news.com.au acted like the question was a no-brainer, and were keen to share that they’d always prefer to support Aussie-made products.
However one honest Aussie admitted she is not more inclined to splash her cash either way.
“I think it is good to support local businesses for sure, but I wouldn’t say I’m more likely to,” she said diplomatically.
Another stopped and said she wouldn’t “necessarily” be more likely to spend money on something just because it is made in Australia.
“I have family overseas and other places and I know there is reputable stuff over there too,” she argued.
Meanwhile a Millennial who stopped for a chat explained that, in general, she tries to support Aussie-made products but within reason.
“I try too,” she said.
“Obviously if it is a crazy price difference and it is way more expensive than something not Australian … and you’re on a budget.”
However, she added that if you can afford to support locally made products without it causing any financial strain, then you “definitely” should.
The theme of supporting Aussie made products continued.
A woman on a walk with her friend stopped for a yap and said she definitely “considers” where something is made as part of her thought process when buying something.
“If it is made in Australia, that is probably a consideration because, okay, why? Because everything is made overseas, “she said.
A few others stopped to chat and enthusiastically agreed that they like to put their money back into the Aussie economy to support jobs.
Aussies might be feeling the cost of living pinch but the bulk of us are still prepared to put their money where their mouths are.
This article is part of the Back Australia series, which was supported by Australian Made Campaign, Harvey Norman, Westpac, Bunnings, Coles, TechnologyOne, REA Group, Cadbury, R.M.Williams, Qantas, Vodafone and BHP.
‘Sick’: Wedding video makes men really mad
Proof rude Sydney habit is getting ‘worse’
