City of Gold Coast leads the Australian-made campaign in Queensland

City of Gold Coast is advocating for local manufacturers in its role as an Australian Made Campaign Supporter, and calling on other local councils to do the same.

It became the first council in Queensland to form a partnership with the Australian Made Campaign in 2013, and has been working to help support the local manufacturing industry.

The not-for-profit Australian Made Campaign promotes Australia’s registered country-of-origin certification trade mark, the products that carry it, and the benefits of buying locally made and grown goods.

Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, said the initiative gave Aussie manufacturers a real competitive advantage, because Councils facilitated access to the wide range of resources available to certified Australian Made businesses.

“The City of Gold Coast is proud to partner with the Australian Made Campaign to help farming and manufacturing businesses increase their capacity,” said City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“There is a strong marketing campaign behind the iconic Australian Made kangaroo logo, and we’re working to encourage more businesses to get involved and access the resources they have available to them.”

“We are deeply committed to supporting local businesses having introduced Australia’s best local procurement policy,” he said.

“Partnering with Australian Made was the next logical step to give our local manufacturers an added edge in a competitive overseas market.”

The logo is promoted in a multi-million dollar marketing and communications program each year, and all of the businesses registered to use it are promoted on the Australian Made online product directory, which is fully searchable by business name or products offered and integrated with social media.

The Australian Made Campaign network also includes branded stores in airport precincts around the country, as well as chains of stores in China and South Korea, connecting businesses with travellers and tourists in export markets where the logo is highly recognised and trusted.

Cr Tate said he hoped more Queensland Councils would join the campaign to boost awareness of the initiative.

“By joining forces, Councils can help support the passionate collective of local businesses making and growing products here, thereby creating local jobs and improving the local economy and community,” he said.

To find out more, or to determine whether your products are eligible to use the logo, visit www. australianmade.com.au/for-business.