BEN LAZARRO, CEO AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN LIMITED: We’re really lucky to have Ash Barty, who needs no introduction, but she’s our Australian Made Week Ambassador this year. We’re very excited to have her, and can’t believe that we’ve gotten an Australian of her stature here with us today. So we’ll hear from Ash a little bit later. 

We’ve also got Ed Husic, the Minister for Industry and Science, so thank you, Minister, for making yourself available as well. The Chair of the Australian Made campaign Allyn Beard is with us keeping an eye on me and my efforts today. And I’d also like to acknowledge MJ Playgrounds for hosting us today – Michael, the owner of MJ Playgrounds, we’re going to hear from him a little bit later as well. So thank you to Michael and the entire team here at MJ. 

As I said, Australian Made Week, it’s a really important time of year for us. Our job at Australian Made is to promote that famous green and gold kangaroo 365 days of the year. And we do that with passion and enthusiasm. But each year we like to have a week where we really shine a spotlight on our makers and growers in the hope that we can change consumer behaviour. And I’ll talk about consumer behaviour in a sec. Consumers are doing a great job on their own, but we’d like to really shine the light so that we can influence those behaviours and they take them beyond this week, tell some stories about local manufacturers, get some people of influence to help us tell that story. And in the last couple of years we’ve been lucky enough to have Elyse Knowles and Adam Liaw to help us out with that story, and now with Ash we couldn’t be in better hands. 

So there’s a lot of, obviously, things about buying Australian – it’s good for the country and the people. We’re known for making high-quality products, not only to high-quality standards but to high safety standards as well. You create jobs, you inject money back into the community. And I think that was really highlighted – we keep referencing the Covid pandemic because it did have such an impact, but it highlighted our over reliance on imports and international supply chains. And so our manufacturers that we did have here really had a chance to shine, and they got us out of some real strife early. We all saw how our manufacturers pivoted. They made all the PPE we needed. If we didn’t have that resource here locally, who knows what position we would have been in. 

So, I think we’ve done a bit of research too. I want to mention before I was talking about consumers, and they’re doing the right thing at the moment. And really pleasingly we’ve found that about 86 per cent of consumers feel good when they buy Australian. They think it’s important, which is really encouraging. As I said before, [indistinct] we saw the real-life benefits of when we buy local. And 93 per cent of Australians actually think we should be building up our local manufacturing capability. They all saw what happened in the last couple of years. So it’s more front of mind for consumers to know that they’ve got a reliable manufacturing sector should anything similar happen again. 

And possibly one of the most pleasing stats we’ve got recently in our research is that 70 per cent of Australians – and nearly three-quarters of them, are actively trying to buy more Australian products, they’re telling us. They’re looking for the logo when they’re in the supermarket, when they’re in the hardware store, when they’re buying furniture, when they’re buying a bed. So that’s really pleasing. 

So that’s probably enough from me. One last thing: if every Australian household committed an extra $10 to their weekly shop, we generate nearly 5 billion into the economy and create nearly 10,000 jobs. And as you can see, it’s a really meaningful way for everyday consumers to maybe just modify their buying habits just a little bit and they can make a real, tangible difference to Australia. 

So that’s probably enough from me now, and thank you again for being here. I’d like to get Industry Minister, Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, he’s going to have a few words, and then we’ll have a chat to Ash and then Michael from MJ Playgrounds. So please welcome the Minister. 

ED HUSIC, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE: Thank you very much, Ben. And if I may just start by acknowledging we’re on the lands of the Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara and pay my respects to elders past and present and any First Nations People who are with us today. 

I also just want to acknowledge, if I may, parliamentary colleague Ted O’Brien, the local federal member, and state member is here as well. I just wanted to make those acknowledgements upfront. 

This is an important week. It is a very important week for us to be able to put a spotlight on fellow Australians that are able to make a contribution locally through their efforts in, in particular, manufacturing, and being able to show the world what we can do. 

We as Australians are very proud whenever we hear the stories of someone who has fought against the odds and been able to get recognition on the world stage. We cheer those fellow Australians on big time. And we’ve got an ambassador here that has done just that in Ash Barty, and it’s a terrific honour to be able to meet with you, and I know people would have walked up to you and told you this, Ash all the time, but the huge national pride in being able to see what you’ve done and the effort that you’ve put in over many years to reach that success. 

Everyone knows you’re a very modest person, you’re not, you know, talking yourself up and being a big talker like you see some people on the world stage, and probably a few politicians – probably a bit close to home – but people do recognise the effort, people do recognise what you achieved and they cheered it on. They want to see that as well and obviously this is a great opportunity to be able to, as an ambassador, talk about that, and we want to see more of that. 

And picking up on Ben’s point, if I may also just say to Ben and Allyn and the team, thank you for what you’re doing in providing a platform for us to cheer on fellow Australians that are doing so much in building businesses, returning great ideas and great businesses and a huge amount of jobs as well. We want to be able to do that. And the work that you’re doing is really, really critical to ensure that that continues. 

As a new government we want to do exactly what Ben was referencing – that is, we all talked through Covid and the lockdowns, that experience that we had, the things that we needed at a time that we needed them most, and we suddenly discovered we weren’t making those things here, and we all said we’d do things differently. Well, as a new government we don’t want that to just be the talk of some other time; we want to learn those lessons and we want to show that we’ve learnt those lessons. That’s why, for example, we’re making one of the biggest investments in manufacturing capability in the country in living memory through the National Reconstruction Fund. In our Budget last week we backed it up with an industry growth program where we can help small and medium enterprises to take that next big step, either get support out of the reconstruction fund and all the manufacturing capabilities that we want to rebuild and also see them grow as well. 

It is about – as I said, we want to see great Australian ideas turned into great businesses, turned into more jobs, be able to meet what we need as a nation but also be able to deliver quality products that the rest of the world loves. The Australian Made logo, whenever that’s on a product that is a sign of quality. It tells people that what they’re getting is a great product. And you can see that so often, and you know that the sentiment is there. As Ben said, Australian consumers want to back that in, but we also know overseas buyers of our product want that too. So it is huge. 

And the other thing that we want to see as well is the Australian Government buys a stack of stuff for goods and services each year. It’s estimated over three years it’ll be $180 billion. Well, we’ve got to be able to find ways for Australian businesses to be able to provide those goods and services to government, and that’s another thing that we’re looking at as well. Again, it’s a lot of work, that thing I mentioned earlier, that sensation we had through lockdown when we thought we could get Australian made products at the time we needed them most and it wasn’t there. It’s going to take a lot of work to turn that around. But what is going to be required is determination and also with a good dose of cooperation between business, government and the broader community to make that happen. 

We can do this, but we need to obviously commit, back that in and use moments like the Australian Made Week to be able to demonstrate what we’re capable of and a reminder of the value of this to the economy and the community. 

So well done to everyone. Australian Made Week is a terrific week for you to all be able to back and get into, and we’re very keen to make sure that we use not just this week but the other 51 weeks of the year and beyond to see that happen at scale. So well done and thank you again, Ben. 

BEN LAZARRO: Well, thank you, Minister. I’d now like to invite Ash to come up, who needs no introduction, but we will. An Australian icon for all the obvious reasons. If we listed all her achievements we’d be here all day. But we’re so honoured to have Ash associate with our brand. And when we were looking for our ambassador this year all the boxes were ticked. Our brand is about authenticity, reliability, as the Minister has just said, quality, standards. And if you want a genuine Australian you look no further than Ash. And so we think the alignment was meant to be. And luckily enough, Ash felt the same, and we’re so grateful that she’s our ambassador this year. 

So, Ash, I’ll get you to pop up here. So Ash, why did you get involved in Australian Made Week?- I’ve kind of put some words In your mouth there. 

ASH BARTY: No, you’ve taken the words out of my mouth, Ben. I think for us – I’m an extremely proud Australian. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and experience a lot of different cultures, and it almost helped me understand that home is where I want to be. Australia is where I want to be, and having the opportunity to work with the Australian Made to celebrate Aussies, to back Aussies, to support our local makers and growers completely made sense, and we jumped at it in an absolute heartbeat. It’s been such an awesome experience the last few months working with you guys building up to this week which is such a celebration for all Australians all around the country. And then we can continue to do that and, like you said, put the spotlight on this week but continue to do the work throughout the rest of the year as well. So a very, very easy decision for us. 

BEN LAZARRO: And as a consumer, obviously you’re a unique type of consumer, you’re quite busy, why do you think that it’s important to buy Australian, not only in your professional life but just in general? 

ASH BARTY: Yeah, I think we’ve touched on a few times today – it’s about the quality, it’s about the standard. You know it is of the best quality in the world, and I think for me it’s about being able to stick to an Australian value of backing your mates, supporting your mates. And you know that when you do buy an Australian product with the green and gold logo that you are backing up Aussies, you’re giving them an opportunity to help boost the economy, to provide more jobs as well. So I think it’s an opportunity that when you buy Australian, when you’re able to support an Australian business, all Aussies win. And I think that’s a value that a lot of Australians stand by, and I was certainly very excited to be able to continue to do that. And, I mean, whenever I’ve travelled the world and you see the Aussie green and gold logo and you see that Australian Made logo, it gets you excited and you know that you are supporting your local home and your mates back home. So a very easy decision. 

BEN LAZARRO: Are you surprised by the range of Aussie products? I know it’s one of the things I always go on about. We make trucks, beauty products, food products, are you surprised at the range of Aussie products out there and a bit closer to the ground? 

ASH BARTY: Not surprised. Honestly, I think there is a lot of choice. And I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Australian made brands and Australian brands manufacturers throughout my career thus far, and it has been – those relationships have been the best ones. They’re the ones that I’ve enjoyed the most, working with Aussies, continuing to support them back home. And it is nice to know that you have a continued choice. It’s growing, it’s getting bigger and it’s becoming bigger. But it is nice to know that when you do go, when you go shopping, you look out for that logo. There are options for you to support that and make that choice. And I certainly make that choice as often as I can to be able to support everyone back home. 

BEN LAZARRO: And you have a couple of favourites? 

ASH BARTY: I do. I have a very obscure, specific favourite: my Vegemite thongs are my favourite. I travelled with them everywhere. It was the touch and the taste of home that was on my feet – very versatile, the Vegemite thong. And I think it’s a quirky one, but it was something that every time I put on reminded me of home, reminded me of the qualities of home and reminded me that I was supporting my nation, my people, the people that I love the most, the people where I’ve spent my whole life. And I think it’s a quirky one, but definitely my favourite. 

BEN LAZARRO: Wonderful. And just one last one: what do you want consumers to take away from this week? You’ve touched a little bit on it already, but what do you want consumers to walk away with when they see this campaign and hear about that Australian Made logo? 

ASH BARTY: It’s about celebrating those local makers and growers. It’s about putting the spotlight on this week. It’s specifically being able to support throughout the whole year as best you can. And the more people that can recognise the green and gold logo and can make, I suppose, the choice to make that is better. And we can give people more of an idea of what companies, manufacturers, options there are available. But, like I touched on, it’s about supporting your fellow Aussies and being able to make that choice that when you do choose to support Australian made and you do choose to buy Australian made, all Aussies win. And I think that’s a quality that Australians have, working for each other and being able to do that and help the economy, help jobs, help so many different facets of our life down here and down under. I think it’s a good thing. 

BEN LAZARRO: Wonderful, thanks, Ash. Questions for Ash now before we talk to Michael from MJ Playgrounds? You’re most welcome to fire some questions at Ash. 

ASH BARTY: Beauty. 

JOURNALIST: We spoke a little bit before, but during that Covid period when we realised just how important Australian made items were, was that something that you noticed in your own life? 

ASH BARTY: Yeah, absolutely. I think like we’ve spoken about today, Covid is something that we often speak about. It did happen, it did affect us in big ways. And I think that was when you maybe had a bit more of an idea of where you were buying from, the products, where they were coming from, and being able to support the Australian made and actually get behind those Australian manufacturers. It made a difference in being able to get the products. So I think Covid definitely affected everyone. It certainly affected me in my career and being able to adjust my choices and really focus and emphasise prioritising Australian made products was a big part of that. 

JOURNALIST: Ash, we know that the hard age group to reach is the younger age group, what would you say to them to buy Australian? 

ASH BARTY: I think it’s about understanding why you’re buying Australian and what you can provide when you do buy Australian. And I think for me I know that I wasn’t very aware of it and over the last few years I’ve been able to educate myself more and understand how much of an impact just a small difference can make. So I think it’s about creating that awareness, and a week like the Australian Made Week does exactly that. It does put the spotlight on for this week, and it’s about continuing those habits and continuing to try and bring those good qualities back to Australia, buy those quality products, support Aussies, back your mates in and be able to do that as often and regularly as possible. Sweet. 

BEN LAZARRO: Well, thanks, Ash. 

ASH BARTY: All good. Thank you. 

BEN LAZARRO: Thanks again.

ENDS