To combat this, we need manufacturing infrastructure to seriously compete with Chinese manufacturing, and the longer we leave it, the more efficient Chinese manufacturing will get.

Currently, we are handicapped by high quality controls, high labour rates and aging infrastructure. We have the advantage of local raw materials.

China has the advantage of ridiculously cheap low cost and slave labour and modern infrastructure. They are handicapped by low quality yields and transport of finished goods.

The logistic networks out of China are improving constantly and quality control is improving.

When you can buy 10 units from China and see them within a week, or have one unit manufactured locally and see it in 2 weeks, it is more “economically rational” to roll the dice on having 1 good unit and 9 items of eWaste (in the short term).

To compete, we need local manufacturers to embrace more efficient manufacturing and have government financial support for employment costs. We also can’t just throw money at the problem without proper auditing. (We don’t want repeating of GMH/Ford Australia, or the countless Insulation/LED Lighting/Solar Panels/Solar Battery/NDIS scams currently in play)