Thread: Australian Made vs Off-Shore.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

The vocational guidance guy at my high school would tell the "thick as two bricks" students to become carpenters, brickies, plumbers as these trades were not heavy on maths. The bright ones who were not going on to university (poor parents in the days of fee paying) were told to become electricians, boilies, and fitter-machinists. These callings required good maths & geometry skills. The plumbers and brickies all became rich and early retired.

Which just highlights who the “thick as two bricks” ones actually are

Although to be fair - if I’d kept my business and not sold and moved on - I would have been retired at 45.

I’d also be bored as hell

Originally Posted by Homestar

If you’ve seen how bad some new tradies are after 4 years training you’d be glad their Apprenticeship went longer than 12 months.

That’s a failing of the system.
Like driving - taught to pass, not taught to do the skill set.

Agree though - I can out “trade” most tradies on my site.

Originally Posted by Eevo

if on the job full time, i dont understand why these things take over 12 months let alone 4/5 years

That explains why kids believe they should start at the top, absolutely no idea of the skills and knowledge required to become a tradesman.

Originally Posted by Homestar

If you’ve seen how bad some new tradies are after 4 years training you’d be glad their Apprenticeship went longer than 12 months. 😁

This!
A few years ago I helped my brother in law(builder) on a job, and he loved my work, in that it wasn't done wrong(and I have zero trade experience).
Explained to me that me being 50% slower on a job saved him 200% labour cost, as that's usually how long it takes to dismantle the garbage work the apprentices usually do, and re do it all again.

My thoughts are that they do it deliberately to extend the overall time it takes to do a job ... either that or they're just too busy facebooking or something.

Originally Posted by ChookD2

I work for a national retailer and I would say that 90+% of what we sell comes from China or other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan and Thailand. With our levels of health and safety, environmental protections (although some of that leave a bit to be desired), wage structures, and costs of essentials like water, power along with rates and taxes - we will never see a return to "Australian Made". As we have attained and come to enjoy higher levels of living standards over the years we can no longer compete unless we return to a protectionist philosophy (which won't happen) the playing field is no longer level. Everyone (governments) want Free Trade Agreements which will never work in our favour due to our diminishing levels of exports. I'd like to be wrong on this one.

Is a product really an export if it only goes to one country and that country owns the company that produce the product anyway?

...and employers might have to pay better wages if more stuff is made here. Importing cheaper goods also underpins lower wages in the long run. Wonder where taxes will come from in future to pay salaries for future jobs sprooked by Govt eg in the care sector..education..etc if we don't actually make stuff anymore and holes in the ground lose value?

My thoughts are that they do it deliberately to extend the overall time it takes to do a job ... either that or they're just too busy facebooking or something.[/QUOTE]

Too busy facebooking then rush to get the job done🤬
By finishing year twelve they think they know everything and just want to rock up to get paid
Start apprentices at 15 when they are still willing to learn

Apprentices should be working with experienced tradies to learn, not left on their own to experiment.
Both our electrician and our plumber have apprentices with them most of the time, except when the job is really simple so they can set them up to work alone.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

The vocational guidance guy at my high school would tell the "thick as two bricks" students to become carpenters, brickies, plumbers as these trades were not heavy on maths. The bright ones who were not going on to university (poor parents in the days of fee paying) were told to become electricians, boilies, and fitter-machinists. These callings required good maths & geometry skills. The plumbers and brickies all became rich and early retired.

Brickues usually have to retire early because their backs are wrecked. I know several who can barely stand upright without being in pain.