Aussies put value before nationalism

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 32

Aussies put value before nationalism

By <

CHRIS PETERS

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Australians are ignoring the plea of the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke to “buy Australian” and instead are putting value for money ahead of nationalism, according to a survey.

The survey, published in Sydney and Melbourne, has found that two-thirds of the population would rather buy the best value rather than buy a product just because it is made in Australia. In his June 11 address to the nation laying the economic cards on the table, Mr Hawke launched the “Buy Australian” campaign to help revive manufacturing and lower

the import bill. The poll of 2000 people polled nationally also found popular pressure for lower tariffs on items such as clothing and footwear which protect Australians against cheaper imports. In response to the question 68 per cent over-all put value ahead of nationalisrii compared with 31 per cent who buy Australian first. Broken down into voting affiliations, conservative voters of the Liberal and National parties were more bargain-conscious than Labor voters with 72 per cent Liberals and 76 per cent Nationals eschewing nationalism in favour of money, while 64 per cent of Labor voters felt the same way.