It is reported that the NSW government will put a ban on Chinese made goods for government services in the next budget. The Australian Protectionist Party is pleased to see one of its policies being taken to save not only Australian jobs, but to foster and nurture Australian manufacturing. Rarely does a Labor government actually do something to defend the interests of their traditional constituency, the Australian worker. In this instance, the APP are pleased to commend the Labor government for following our protectionist and pro Australian policies.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that all NSW Government departments and agencies will be forced to protect Australian jobs by giving preference to locally made products.
This would include stationery, uniforms, cars and even trains and building contracts. And to make local bids more competitive, a 20 per cent discount will be applied to Australian products when comparing the cost with overseas bidders. [1]

This will no doubt upset Simon Crean who has been traveling throughout South East Asia signing Australia up to what amounts to one way “free trade” agreements. That is, they have full access to Australian markets but we do not have full access to theirs – they are sensible enough to protect their own industries. We wonder what part of 'free trade' Simon doesn't understand? Economic extremist Ross Garnaut will also be upset at this protectionism, since he believes that even bilateral free trade agreements are a form of protectionism.

Free trade is a disaster for Australian manufacturing, you cannot have free trade with countries that exploit their workers, deny them union representation and pay them very low wages. No doubt the Rees government will come under fire from federal Labor, but for once we support the position of the NSW state labor party.



References:
[1] NSW to buy Aussie-made products to save jobs, Daily Telegraph, 15 June 2009
Australia lauds trade deal with South-East Asia, Earth Times, 26 February 2009

19th June 2009