Svengali wrote on May 15^th, 2016 at 11:38pm:


You don't seem to understand that this is not a good thing if all industries in Australia are headed for the same fate as the rag trade, which is now happening.

How is this good, eventually we wont have jobs which means no money to buy things.....??!!??

What then.......!!!!!!

Quote:


You foolish man, so you want to make energy expensive so people will use less...!!!

Wont happen we'll just pay more.

Why don't you lead the way get rid of your carbon footprint, there goes 21st century life my friend, its energy that has lifted us up to this plateau that you currently enjoy.

Will you stop using your computer and talking sh!t on this forum, one way to improve your efficiency.

Going to give up your car and mobile phone...!!!

Pigs dick you'll just chug along the way you have become accustom to, but your energy bills will be much higher.

You'll make the oligarchy very happy, syphoning billions out of our nation.

Idiot.

The problem is that if Australia does have a strong manufacturing basis then increasing tariff would be a good idea.  Because, then the domestic need will be able to be met.

However, at the moment, our consumers are dependent heavily on overseas import especially from China.   Doing so, even if we get the rebound in investment for manufacturing, it would be at least in 3 to 4 years time.  And in the middle, we will see a rise in prices across the board.   This would be a virtual political suicide for whoever is in power. 

If we increase tariffs, then doubtlessly the other countries who are affected will also most likely increase their tariffs on our export as well.  And that would present a great disadvantage to our producers. 

The solution?  Evolve our economy.  There is no future in competing against $1 per hour cost basis from other countries.  If its not China, then it would be Vietnam, Angola, etc etc.   We should learn from the best - like Germany.  We need to innovate, and we need use our brand of reliability and trustworthy.  But to do that, we need investments in infrastructure, research and education.  We are gravely lacking in these departments.  I think, this is more of a threat to our future than cheap Chinese imports.

John Smith wrote on May 16^th, 2016 at 1:26pm:


Supporting uncompetitive, inefficient, low productivity industries with tariffs has never worked.

Economies of scale of competitors guarantees they wont work.

Furthermore protected industries don't invest in research and innovation and they fall further behind with time. They don't invest because they know they have no future and they cash in as along as they can.

freediver wrote on May 15^th, 2016 at 8:48pm:


There's no such thing.

Svengali wrote on May 16^th, 2016 at 2:00pm:


You must have sore nuts sitting on the fence .... talking up Tory inspired competition policy & private enterprise spiel ...

then dragging out your best looney left rhetoric for climate change, reducing green house gases whilst defending the spending of billions on minorities, muslim reffos & leftwing luvvie causes.

Talk about ambidextrous ... but then again you'd have to have two. 

Gnads wrote on May 16^th, 2016 at 4:43pm:


Totally agree.... free trade is between equal partners - not one side having essentially a slave economy and the other trying to stay afloat in an all-volunteer and mutual prosperity for worker and employer regime...

This is a bit like the North v South thing in the US pre the Civil War... only it's Mahatma Ho Fung pickin' dat cotton an' dem Damned Yankees thinking they's got da better way o' life dere... and it jest ain't fair dat dem slave owners gits their labour fo' free o' nearly...
   

Laugh till you cry wrote on May 16^th, 2016 at 7:39pm:


Tell that to the unemployed, the under-employed and the increasing unemployable as they line up at the social security office.  I'm certain they are all happy to take one for the team.... as long as Mahatma Hung Lo gets to work for $2 a day and can buy a bag of rice.

'Free trade' and 'globalisation' helps the middle men to grow richer - not humanity as a whole.