Is Australia Being Ripped Off?

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It was reported that 100% of the baby food
Australian babies eat isn't Australian.

Did you know that only 15% of the products on our supermarket shelves are from Australian owned companies? And did you know that those foreign owned companies that provide 85% of what's in the supermarket pay little or no tax in Australia?

Mark Latham, a columnist of the Daily Telegraph, wrote an article on 16 July 1999 on this very issue. He wrote, "Despite the strong economic growth of recent years most multi-nationals in Australia regularly report losses. These are large global companies with billions of dollars in assets and turnover yet never claiming a profit and therefore never needing to pay tax in this country."

Yes, we want and need foreign investment in Australia. But we don't want multi-national companies who take over Australian companies and brazenly take their profits out of the country paying little or no taxes.

Our once proudly owned Australian products, Vegemite, Arnott's Biscuits, Aeroplane jelly, Edgells, Fountain, Jaffas and Minties, to name just a few, are now in the hands of foreign companies.

Making a difference

One company trying to make a difference is Dick Smith's Foods. The company's aim is to produce a range of foods made in Australia with Australian ingredients from Australian owned businesses. Dick Smith Foods and Australian growers and farmers are organizing Australian Owned Food Products.

The first product produced by Dick Smith Foods was peanut butter and it was followed by a variety of other products. Dick Smith Foods has also promised to replace our formerly Australian owned products Vegemite and Aeroplane Jelly with our own Australian owned and produced Ozemite and Helicopter Jelly.

Would you be surprised to know that 100% of the very food Australian babies eat is from non-Australian companies? Here's a breakdown of who owns what's on your supermarket shelf.

What do foreign companies own?

80 %
100 %
80 %
75 %
50 %
90 %

of the Abattoirs
of the Baby Food
of the Baked Beans
of the Beef Processing
of the Beer
of the Biscuits

50 %
65 %
50 %
85 %
40 %
85 %

of the Bread (major)
of the Breakfast Cereals
of the Cheese
of the Frozen Vegetables
of the Meat Pies
of the Pet Food

Source: AUSBUY

What will YOU do?

It's up to you as an Australian to decide if you support Australian products and Australian companies. We have the resources, the knowledge and the manpower to provide for our people. All we need is the will and support to make it happen.

By buying Dick Smiths Foods, you will be making a statement of support. Buying Australian products means more jobs for Australians and less imports. Two additional and very important benefits of buying Australian products are profits that stay in Australia to improve our economy and a fair share of taxes paid to support our roads, transport, medical and a host of things to improve Australian lives.

More Australian companies needed

While Dick Smith's Foods has the right idea, one company can not turn the tide on their own. Other proud Australian businesses must also step into the fray in their own fields and reclaim ownership of the Australian marketplace.

When they do, as Dick Smith Foods is doing, will you support them with your hard earned dollar? Or will you simply take the easy way out and winge later when another Australian business or Aussie icon is taken over? It's up to you.

Brands and products owned by foreign companies

United Kingdom
Cadbury, Ned Kelly Bread, Streets, John West, Cottees, Aussie Family, Schweppes, Ribena Fruit Juice, Bushells Tea, Aeroguard, Mortein, Macleans, Bundaberg, Lipton Tea, Castrol, Quantas Holidays, Thomas Cook

United States
Arnott's, Continental, Pal, Edgell, Watties, Ampol, Sorbent, Chum, IXL, Campbells, Kellogs, Pringles, Smiths, Twisties, Mt. Franklin Spring Water, Birds Eye, Heinz, McCains, Masterfoods, Colgate, Tandy Electronics, Caltex, Valvoline, Black and Decker, Avon, Amway

Other Countries
New Zealand - Ansett Airlines and Traveland
Holland - Shell, TNT, Mercantile Mutual
Japan - Jeanswest, Tooheys, Fountain, Bridgestone
South Africa - Country Road, Sportsgirl, Taubmans
France - Cradle Valley Cheese and National Mutual
Malaysia - Video Ezy and Kambrook
Switzerland - Lucky Dog and Friskies
Hong Kong - Esprit
Canada - McCain

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