Australian Made from now on, who's in?

[gronk]

& even back in 1975, people couldn't work out that the big thick painted line on the road was where you were supposed to stop ...

Yep, but in that photo, the Torana hasn't stopped and is about to mow those 2 people down !!   

[Hairs]

How's the Flames on the XA?
Happy days.

[Bigfish]

We might just be able to manufacture cars for the future...

https://newatlas.com/automotive/h2x-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles/

[Fizzie]

Was reading about that.

Nice idea, but before you put a fleet of hydrogen cars on the street, it would be sort of a good idea to have lot's of servo's dispensing hydrogen ...

[Jeepers Creepers]

We might just be able to manufacture cars for the future...

https://newatlas.com/automotive/h2x-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles/

They haven't been able to build a decent quality car since the mid 70's.... (and even they had their issues) and turn a profit.
Not sure why anyone would think they could get it right now. 

If the last 45 years have taught us anything.... we can't build a decent car.

[Pete79]

Tasmanian company Blundstone boots are about to celebrate 150 years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-18/blundstone-boots-150-year-anniversary/12366284

But these days the only Australian made product in their whole shoe catalog are gumboots.

[Bird]

They haven't been able to build a decent quality car since the mid 70's.... (and even they had their issues) and turn a profit.
Not sure why anyone would think they could get it right now. 

If the last 45 years have taught us anything.... we can't build a decent car.

I'd have one...
https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/new-brabham-road-car-coming-122960/

[Bird]

Tasmanian company Blundstone boots are about to celebrate 150 years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-18/blundstone-boots-150-year-anniversary/12366284

But these days the only Australian made product in their whole shoe catalog are gumboots.

The same story with most of our manufacturing industry over last few decades.
"In 2007, the company received a strong backlash in its home state of Tasmania when it announced it would have to start manufacturing the leather boots in Thailand and India, sending about 300 local jobs offshore.
Ms Wishart said there was an outcry in Tasmania.
Steve Gunn was at the helm at the time and said there was little option.
"It was a gut-wrenching experience to live through, but we knew we had to do it from a survival point of view. It had to happen," he said."

[gronk]

If the last 45 years have taught us anything.... we can't build a decent car.

I think quality wise we got to a pretty good standard in the last 10 yrs.  Reliability wise, we were up with the Europeans.

The yanks have been building cars for over a 100 yrs and still can't get their stuff reliable !!

[Jeepers Creepers]

I think quality wise we got to a pretty good standard in the last 10 yrs.  Reliability wise, we were up with the Europeans.

The yanks have been building cars for over a 100 yrs and still can't get their stuff reliable !!

The good.
Engine wise, pretty good.
Fuel consumption, very good.
Brakes.... pretty damn good... but see below.

The bad,
Fit and fitment of dashboards and door trims. (cheap arse plastic)
Centre consoles and lids, (cheap arse plastic that breaks.)
Bumper bar brackets and retaining clips. (cheap arse plastic)
Steering wheels than fall apart in the sun.
Steering wheel operated buttons, fall off and on the floor, never to seen ever again.
Internal plastic door handles that break. XD to XF falcons were breaking outside handles in the 80's.
Hood linings, been falling down since the late 80's.
Head lights that fade and dis-colour in the sun.
Paint jobs, the clear coat peels off.
Metallic paint jobs, massive fade issues..... esp the orange based colours.
Brake rotors that require replacement because they've warped in 30,000klm.
Rubber donut tailshafts, because otherwise, they would vibrate ya fillings out.
Cars that catch fire.
Service costs.
Computers, more so the earlier stuff of the 90's
Power window mechanisms, motors are good, plastic clips break and you have to throw away a complete unit.

That list, just took me all of a couple of minutes to write. Sad really.

[NZMarkb]

The good.
Engine wise, pretty good.
Fuel consumption, very good.
Brakes.... pretty damn good... but see below.

The bad,
Fit and fitment of dashboards and door trims. (cheap arse plastic)
Centre consoles and lids, (cheap arse plastic that breaks.)
Bumper bar brackets and retaining clips. (cheap arse plastic)
Steering wheels than fall apart in the sun.
Steering wheel operated buttons, fall off and on the floor, never to seen ever again.
Internal plastic door handles that break. XD to XF falcons were breaking outside handles in the 80's.
Hood linings, been falling down since the late 80's.
Head lights that fade and dis-colour in the sun.
Paint jobs, the clear coat peels off.
Metallic paint jobs, massive fade issues..... esp the orange based colours.
Brake rotors that require replacement because they've warped in 30,000klm.
Rubber donut tailshafts, because otherwise, they would vibrate ya fillings out.
Cars that catch fire.
Service costs.
Computers, more so the earlier stuff of the 90's
Power window mechanisms, motors are good, plastic clips break and you have to throw away a complete unit.

That list, just took me all of a couple of minutes to write. Sad really.

Unfortunately all very true

[MDS69]

Tasmanian company Blundstone boots are about to celebrate 150 years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-18/blundstone-boots-150-year-anniversary/12366284

But these days the only Australian made product in their whole shoe catalog are gumboots.

2 days ago I went to get some new work shoes. I have to wear steel cap but in a dress type shoe as opposed to a work boot. I have been wearing steel blue for the last 10 years or so and this year I asked the question, what ones were Australian made. There were lots of Australian companies on offer, Oliver, Steel Blue, Redback, Mongrel. Can't remember what the man said about Puma and Hard Yakka. Anyway turns out Mongrel were the most Australian and Steel Blue were next as far as manufactured in country. Turns out that Mongrel were the cheaper of the two so that's what I got. Steel Blue were only dearer apparently because of their promotional budget. Got to pay Dennis Lillie somehow I suppose.

[GeoffA]

Had a pair of Blunnies once. Most uncomfortable boots I've ever had. Took ages to wear in.....

[tedota]

Got my Mongels hand delivered on Tuesday. Most comfy steel caps by a long shot I reckon.

[Me]

It's a very complex issue, but can be summed up in two words; free trade.

With free trade, we loose jobs & manufacturing. We can't compete with the slave like labour forces overseas & we are geographically disadvantaged regarding logistics.

But, with free trade, we mostly all now can afford stuff that would be a luxury to us if we were to go back to tariffs & trade barriers.

A rock and a hard place comes to mind!

[MarkGU]

Had a pair of Blunnies once. Most uncomfortable boots I've ever had. Took ages to wear in.....

Wear nothing but Redback boots. Aussie made and verrrry comfortable. 

[GeoffA]

Wear nothing but Redback boots. Aussie made and verrrry comfortable. 

Same here....

[GregP]

When farming bought a pair of Blundstones at the begining of winter every year.  Take them out of box ,put them on and they would feel as though I had been wearing them for years but didn't leak.  When they bought in the air sole it was like walking in sneakers.
GregP

[scrubber]

I used to wear blunnies for a long time then their quality went to Shit(probably about the time they stopped making them in Australia).  First thing to go would be the stitching in the sides then the sole would start splitting - usually within 12 months.  I've switched over to Redbacks now.  I'm on my second pair now and had the first for probably 4-5 years until they became a tad loose and the sole was worn out.  The Redbacks provide a lot more ankle support than the blunnies ever did and I feel a lot more surefooted on slopes.  The blunnies were always a bit so so with grip especially on hard smooth surfaces.

[Fizzie]

Looking at doing this for wool

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-28/farmers-push-for-wool-processing-manufacturing-in-australia/12391394

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Sadly, you would find it fairly difficult to go camping buying only Australian made camping gear - but we've always tried to range what we can that's Australian made. 

Here is our list currently

https://www.tentworld.com.au/australian-made-camping-gear/

145 Products.

If there is something you think should be in our range - let me know!

EDIT - Made the link clickable

[Jeepers Creepers]

Here is good example.

At the nut and bolt place in Gatton.

Needed those cone shape hole saw thingys.
A box of three, $100, made in China.

I was pissing and moaning at a $100, because I needed to do about 10 holes only. 

To stand my ground, I either ring around or drive around, looking for Aussie made, then pay twice the price.
NEVER GUNNA HAPPEN.


Anyway, do we even make half the Shit we buy from China?

[gronk]

Anyway, do we even make half the Shit we buy from China?

Nope, we sent it all offshore yrs ago.

[Fizzie]

Anyway, do we even make half the Shit we buy from China?

As Gronk said, unfortunately not , but is China the only place we can get things from

[glenm64]

China economically blackmails anyone going against its will. Out of our own greed we have turned a blind eye to all its human rights abuses etc.
But its a 2 way street. If the world stops buying Chinese made goods and supports countries like Vietnam, India, Taiwan etc, China's economic power could be curbed.
But I think our own greed, personally, as a country and as a global community will allow China to take absolute control of the worlds economy. Then you watch it expand its physical reaches.


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