When the Herald Sun and other News Corp Australia mastheads launched the Back Australia campaign a year ago we had high hopes for the impact it would achieve, but were also clear-eyed about the challenge ahead.
As it turned out, those hopes were transcended by the incredible patriotism of Australians, who backed the initiative with passion and purpose.
We revealed exclusive research that showed if each family spent $100 of their weekly household budget on Australian-made goods instead of those sourced from overseas, it would add $16bn to the economy in just 12 months.
It was a tough ask in a cost-of-living crisis but Australia answered the call.
Just six months later research showed almost one in three Australians who had seen the Back Australia campaign were willing to pay more than 10 per cent extra to support local businesses and almost nine in ten would redirect up to $100 of their weekly spend.
It tells you everything about how much Australians love their country, but it also says something more.
Australians understand that backing local means backing a better economy and a stronger nation tomorrow.
Victoria has historically been the nation’s industrial and agricultural heartland and is now a hugely diverse economy; a financial capital boasting sectors across digital tech, advanced manufacturing, cutting-edge health and life sciences, unique creative, sporting and major event endeavours and a knowledge state with a world-leading reputation for higher education.
Victorians help drive 24 per cent of the national economy and we are home to Australia’s largest agriculture and food processing workforce, with ag exports now topping a record $20bn-plus.
But the challenges we face, as a state and nation, as inflation, energy, fuel and international supply chains and trade are tested mean that more competitive footings, smarter regulatory frameworks, lower taxation and incentivising productivity and entrepreneurialism are more pressing than ever.
Embracing and responsibly managing the AI revolution now upon us will be key to growing jobs and productivity.
In our print and online coverage today and in the days and weeks ahead you will read new initiatives proposed and underway to help reboot Australia.
You will see stories that exemplify Australian grit and ingenuity.
Australia is blessed with vast natural resources, a services, manufacturing, farming, energy and financial sector with still-untapped power and innovations at the vanguard of a new world that can be unleashed when red tape and punitive taxes are stripped away.
Australians can be proud of what we have achieved but we can never be complacent.
That is why we will always Back Australia.
This article is part of Back Australia – a series supported by Harvey Norman, News24, Ampol, Bunnings, Qantas, AAMI, Journey Beyond and Gippsland Critical Minerals.