Today’s announcement that the football club that represents everyone in western and south west Sydney, the Wanderers, will play their three Asian Champions League home games in Campbelltown, is welcome news.
Asian club fans travel for these games so it means a massive boost for the local economy times three.
Campbelltown Council and senior officers cop a bit of criticism from time to time, but this time it’s a big pat on the back.
It’s just good to see some action instead of talk, so well done.
The flip side of the Wanderers playing here next year is the story that a great local business has been forced to close down after more than 40 years.
Strassmeir Industries, located on Williamson Road, Ingleburn just could not turn the tide against cheaper imports.
What made things worse for Strassmeir and other engineering companies like it is that our governments have turned to these cheaper imports.
Whether it’s small metal parts or train carriages, our governments have in recent years opted for the cheaper imported versions.
Losing this government business is not the only reason local manufacturers have not been able to compete in the past 20 years or so.
But according to the family that started Strassmeir Industries, it is a substantial factor.
The net result is that we end up with more and more of our fellow residents out of work and dependent on welfare.
But what is the point of that?
It looks like America has seen the light and will take strong steps to protect their local industries and jobs when Donald Trump become president in January.
At the very least here there should be a major inquiry into the impact of government procurement policies.
Some people will say that there is no need for an enquiry or the setting up of a committee.
What’s needed is all levels of government buying local even if it’s not the cheapest tender.
This would protect local jobs but also ensure that we continue to make things in this country.
Or will we just sit back and wait for our Donald Trump to come along to shake things up?
