$15million boots contract going overseas?

[ramblingboy42]

When will it end?

This government must be brought into line....
Aussie boots maker Rossi bypassed for defence deal, Nick Xenophon says - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-14/xenophon-angry-aussie-boots-bypassed-for-defence-deal/5594030)

[d@rk51d3]

Some of the Rossi line is already made in the PRC. They can make 10 pairs there for the same money as 1 pair here.

Now if Rossi could make decent boot in the first place, I might care.

[nugge t]

Not sure where it will end but there is no doubt about where it started and it wasn't with this Govt, it was as a direct result of the Button scheme of the Hawke Government. The clothing and footwear industries were 2 of the first to feel the full impact of tarrif reduction.

In my opinion all Governments ever since have been guilty on this issue. This is not a one party flaw as you would try to determine it.

Wore my first pair of Rossitor boots nearly 50 years ago as a young kid playing AFL footy in Adelaide. Leather soles with bang in leather studs and the only guarantee was that you would get blisters. Bought a pair of their soft toe work boots a few years back when passing through Roma...should have got the RM's:D

The irony is that in those days, the Adidas etc were so expensive we couldn't afford them and had to buy Australian.

[D110V8D]

Been through 2 pairs of Blundstone boots in less than 18 months. :(

Recently bought a pair of Rossi boot's. So far so good. :)

Sending manufacturing offshore is all part of "the plan" in my opinion. I don't like it (small manufacturing business owner) but I have to deal with it and as far as I can see there will be no end.

[nugge t]

Sending manufacturing offshore is all part of "the plan" in my opinion. I don't like it (small manufacturing business owner) but I have to deal with it and as far as I can see there will be no end.

Totally agree. I am also a small manufacturing business owner and a large part of our market has already gone off shore. I am completely disillusioned with all sides on this issue.

[olbod]

Fifty five year ago I started wearing elastic sided Baxter boots.
Comfortable and long lasting.
Álways wore RMs for saddle work.
Now in me dotage I wear elastic sided T boots. No idea where they are made.
These too are long lasting, good leather with a good rubber sole.
They are lighter than others similar like RM's and only cost about a hundred bucks.
I wear niblicks as me golf shoe but have never bought anything but elastic sided boots for me dailies in the last fifty five years.

Ones below that I wear are about eight year old.
They last longer if you polish them at least once a month, especially if it has been raining.

Well anyway.

[d@rk51d3]

Now in me dotage I wear elastic sided T boots. No idea where they are made.
These too are long lasting, good leather with a good rubber sole.
They are lighter than others similar like RM's and only cost about a hundred bucks.


We used to sell a T-Star boot. It was a cheapy, ex-china, around $80. Damn, they were comfortable. Wore them 7 days a week, and they went for years.

[olbod]

PS: to my above post.
I am pleased to find that the T boots are Australian owned and made.
Thats even better.
Go and buy a pair for Sundy best.
Garn.

[p38arover]

When will it end?

This government must be brought into line....

But did this govt. introduce the purchasing rules or was it a previous govt or even just the department involved?

[AndyG]

Maybe it's not too late for an Aussie business to get the contract for the boot laces and polish. :(

But i think we have sold Kiwi Polish so we could pay for the cheap imported TV's foreign debt, after we closed the AWA Factory.

[BMKal]

But did this govt. introduce the purchasing rules or was it a previous govt or even just the department involved?

Doesn't matter Ron. ;)

Just another opportunity for a cheap and ill informed political shot with little if any basis in fact.

It's all getting pretty boring really. :zzz:

[Tombie]

PS: to my above post.
I am pleased to find that the T boots are Australian owned and made.
Thats even better.
Go and buy a pair for Sundy best.
Garn.

Where does it say that? From their web site...


AUSTRALIAN OWNED & DESIGNED
QUALITY FOOTWEAR SINCE 1851

T-BOOTS are work boots and riding boots made by Enoch Taylor Pty Ltd. The company was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest footwear manufacturers in the world.

[incisor]

what has tendering and procurement rules got to do with tariffs?

to quote bmkal "Just another opportunity for a cheap and ill informed political shot with little if any basis in fact."

that said, no matter which pack of clowns setup the current regime, why hasn't there been one of them cost benefit analysis things the current crowd have been so keen of extolling the virtues of in regards to just about everything else?

[olbod]

Where does it say that? From their web site...




AUSTRALIAN OWNED & DESIGNED

QUALITY FOOTWEAR SINCE 1851


T-BOOTS are work boots and riding boots made by Enoch Taylor Pty Ltd. The company was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest footwear manufacturers in the world.




Oops.
After your post I went back to the internet and dug a bit further.
The web page that I posted was used untill 2004. Then the company changed their managedment and now manufactured in Suva.
Still a damned good boot tho.
If I ever need to I will continue to buy them.

[ramblingboy42]

But did this govt. introduce the purchasing rules or was it a previous govt or even just the department involved?

I think Nugget is probably on the ball , but $15million dollar contacts should not be awarded overseas when a company here has the capability to fulfil it.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

But did this govt. introduce the purchasing rules or was it a previous govt or even just the department involved?Doesn't matter Ron. ;)

Just another opportunity for a cheap and ill informed political shot with little if any basis in fact.

It's all getting pretty boring really. :zzz:Actually a lot of this overseas purchasing is actually a consequence of the WTO and free trade agreements.

Unless we can declare that boots are a strategic defence material Governments are prevented from excluding foreign manufacturers from bidding on Government contracts.

In NSW it used to be NSW Government Purchasing Policy that we had to purchase items (like hospital beds) manufactured in NSW and if we couldn't find a NSW manufacturer it had to be an Australian manufacturer and before we could consider a foreign manufacturer we had to get an exemption.

That all went by the board about 15 to 20 years ago with what's now WTO rules.

[landy]

I might be wrong but from the picture the boot the guy is holding is a "work boot" style of boot. Small peanuts as only a few trades get them. The parade boot contract was recently given to RM Williams, an Aussie Coy but not sure if that many boots could be made in Australia. I hope they are. Remember EVERY soldier is issued a pair of these on enlistment. But has to buy replacements pairs from there. So that keeps costs down a bit. Now the interesting question is the field boots. These are crap! I think we are up to MK VIII already and everyone knows someone with "chicken feet" and has special bought boots. Also I'm lead to believe ( it was in the Army rag) that Danner of the US has a contract to supply of the shelf boots now along side Redback boots.
Boots are a major issue with soldiers. we walk a long way, a lot of the time. I buy my own (Bates) rather than wear ill fitting rubbish. You can't keep giving soldiers crap boots just because they are Australian made. Australian Boot manufactures need to pick up there game.

cheers,

[Grappler]

I always liked and bought Bludstone riggers boots

Despite the latest pair having Blundstone -Tasmania - Australia- 1870, on the box, a small label deep inside the boot reveals they are made in Vietnam

[loanrangie]

What ****s me the most is -
1) they are made offshore
2) usually in countries with a free trade agreement or preferential duty, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Bangladesh etc
3) they pay slave labour rates in those countries
4) then they still charge the same price they did when they were made here :mad:.

The big sporting goods companies are the worst, $9 for a t-shirt that they sell for $179, $10-30 for shoes that they sell for $150 + .

[nat_89]

I have to say working in mining and wearing steel capped boots all day every day I have been through all brands Oliver blue steel blundstone and many others but the best one I've got now is Mongrel which are all made in Aus I think they say and damn they are comfy light and longest lasting ones I've had!!


But I do believe where possible the Commonwealth should be supporting Australian businesses as much as and wherever we can!

[Tank]

Some of the Rossi line is already made in the PRC. They can make 10 pairs there for the same money as 1 pair here.

Now if Rossi could make decent boot in the first place, I might care.
Profit gouging bastards, those boots made in China are sold here for the same amount of money as the Australian boot, Regards Frank.

[weeds]

I have to say working in mining and wearing steel capped boots all day every day I have been through all brands Oliver blue steel blundstone and many others but the best one I've got now is Mongrel which are all made in Aus I think they say and damn they are comfy light and longest lasting ones I've had!!


But I do believe where possible the Commonwealth should be supporting Australian businesses as much as and wherever we can!

We just dumped mongrels for our company, not sure who we use now......I have never worn the mongrels in the past six years

[nugge t]

what has tendering and procurement rules got to do with tariffs?

to quote bmkal "Just another opportunity for a cheap and ill informed political shot with little if any basis in fact."

that said, no matter which pack of clowns setup the current regime, why hasn't there been one of them cost benefit analysis things the current crowd have been so keen of extolling the virtues of in regards to just about everything else?

Clearly you are having a shot at me as usual but you might want to read my post again.

The first political shot was fired by the original post which wanted the current government held to account for the situation. In my post I blamed both sides whilst pointing out where the tariff reduction system first began.

The tariff reduction is relevant as it is having a major affect on Australian manufacturing’s ability to survive. I understand that Defence would probably not be paying any duty or sales tax but should the Australian product then be discounted by any Australian taxes such as payroll tax, super, Medicare levy, EPA licence fees etc etc etc. As a small manufacturing business owner, I want to see manufacturing strong.

As a tax payer, I also want to see us getting value for tax payer’s money. I am becoming increasingly alarmed at what I see as the "cost" of waste and stupid spending in just about every aspect of our lives. Everyone "wants" something but very few appreciate the cost associated and how every additional cost and impost adds to the cost of goods, services, government..it all gets passed on in some form and makes just that little bit less competitive

[nat_89]

We just dumped mongrels for our company, not sure who we use now......I have never worn the mongrels in the past six years

I loved the Mongrels I wear very comfy and a zip up the side that complies with all the mining ankle standard crap haha. Good boots just can't kill mine!

[nugge t]

Now in me dotage I wear elastic sided T boots. No idea where they are made.
These too are long lasting, good leather with a good rubber sole.
They are lighter than others similar like RM's and only cost about a hundred bucks.
I wear niblicks as me golf shoe but have never bought anything but elastic sided boots for me dailies in the last fifty five years.

Ones below that I wear are about eight year old.
They last longer if you polish them at least once a month, especially if it has been raining.

Well anyway.

Could not agree more. I found a pair in Goldings in Roma....love that store, it is like going back 50 years in time when the people in the store actually had product knowledge.

I have had a couple of pair and they were the best boots I have ever had. I actually went back to get another pair and they were out of stock which is when I got the Rossi's. Like chalk and cheese.

[BMKal]

I have to say working in mining and wearing steel capped boots all day every day I have been through all brands Oliver blue steel blundstone and many others but the best one I've got now is Mongrel which are all made in Aus I think they say and damn they are comfy light and longest lasting ones I've had!!


But I do believe where possible the Commonwealth should be supporting Australian businesses as much as and wherever we can!

I wore Blundstone for many years until I was no longer allowed to wear elastic sided or "zip" sided boots at work on minesites - then changed to Rossi.

These days though - I like the Mack workboots. The ones with the composite toe cap still meet the relevant Australian Standards for safety footwear, are much lighter than "steel cap" workboots, and you don't have to take them off to pass through airport security.

[nat_89]

I wore Blundstone for many years until I was no longer allowed to wear elastic sided or "zip" sided boots at work on minesites - then changed to Rossi.

These days though - I like the Mack workboots. The ones with the composite toe cap still meet the relevant Australian Standards for safety footwear, are much lighter than "steel cap" workboots, and you don't have to take them off to pass through airport security.

Yeah I'm the same didn't have any problems with the old Blunnies elastic sides never rolled my ankle or had any problems at all but all of a sudden we need to have proper ankle support and all that rubbish!! I reckon supporting your ankle all day makes it weaker when your home because it's not getting worked but anyway.

I haven't tried the Mack ones if I see them I'll have a look at them and give em a whirl.

[wrinklearthur]

Really! Since Blundstone flew the coop, have my feet grown from 10's to 13's ?
I thought that a person's feet stopped growing about the twenty years of age mark.

[BathurstTom]

I used to wear T Boots - they were made by Enoch Taylor. Great boots. Didn't know that you could still get them. They used to be bigger, size fir size, than other boots. I take a size 8 - 8.5 in boots. In T Boots I take 6.5.

Tom.

[d@rk51d3]

I used to wear T Boots - they were made by Enoch Taylor. Great boots. Didn't know that you could still get them. They used to be bigger, size fir size, than other boots. I take a size 8 - 8.5 in boots. In T Boots I take 6.5.

Tom.

Good to know. I'm normally an 11, but sizing up on their website makes me an 8 going on 9. Had me a bit worried.

[Sprint]

ever since I've needed proper shoes I wore Blundestones, but when I couldnt find any more that were made in Australia I switched to the same style of riggers boot, but made by Ariat, just as comfortable, and made in the USA

Though I have to admit, the zip-up Police issue Taipan boots I've worn for the last year or so havent been bad....

[DiscoKym]

The Government has a short memory..

Army parade boots falling apart in hot weather - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-29/army-boots-fall-apart-in-hot-weather/4038572)

Not very helpful to the troop in the bush???