....The ONLY thing that will save our manufacturing sector is to bring in tariffs and that also goes for our fruit and vegetable industries as well.

The problem is Robert, we rely on them to buy our products, far more than they rely on us.

We can't get away fro the fact that too many on the public purse are earing too much for too little in return. The flow-on to the small business operator is detrimental as we have seen now over the past few decades. One of the most unfair & complex tax systems doesn't exactly ease things either. Australia needs to work towards a major overhaul in its workings. Reward those who put in the effort not the high maintenance parasites who do nothing except dragging us all down.

*The problem is Robert, we rely on them to buy our products, far more than they rely on us.*

And our products are:
Iron ore, coal, salt, gas, farm products from agribusiness.
All of which make obscene profits for some Australian billionaires and the rest of the profits are exported overseas.
yes they do employ a lot of people but if we had a proper manufacturing sector , they would be employed there instead.
The agribusiness production is tearing the heart out of the remaining soil and also is exporting our water.
The mining is the cause of enormous emissions of CO2 and also results in degradation of the environment.
It all comes back to rule by Corporations and money.

Robert, I work in the gas fields in QLD where a common wage for unskilled is $38 per hour.

They work a 21 on 7 day off roster and pocket AFTER TAX about $10 K per month.

How do you propose manufacturing, farming, almost anything else by way of industry can compete with that and stay competitive?

Moreso, how do you propose we draw workers away from that kind of money and pay them less than a grand a week?

Sorry, it's simply not going to happen.

First of all which do we prefer that people should survive on government handouts or do something productive. I strongly favour the latter approach. Now if the government has a choice between investing in a project, that will pay workers the minimum wage, or paying people to sit on their bums for half that amount, it should be a nobrainer as to which is the better course of action.
As I understand the situation the company is currently not losing money, but is not getting an adequate return on funds invested. The solution to this problem is to invest in modern equipment. Now Coca-Cola the owners of SPC have a primary responsibility to their share holders and owe Australia no favours, they can just as easily invest the money on a more profitable enterprise overseas, and I have no doubt will do so if the government is not willing to make a contribution.
The argument that the government should not prop up unprofitable business is legitimate, but that is not the problem here. If investment in new plant is not undertaken soon, SPC will indeed become unprofitable.
The government is simply placing rhetoric above a rational response

Nothing is ever simple straightforward and easy.

I think we have all developed a mentality that the government can solve all our problems which then of course passes masses of statutes and laws that overwhelm them. Just look at the tax law that now cover thousand of pages and get added to every year. They try unsuccessfully to manipulate our economy when on balance I feel the market should be left to its own devices when I think booms and busts would become a thing of the past. Obviously you can't please all the people all the time and there will be winners and losers, but everyone expects governments to run an economy where everyone is a winner. It can't be done, although the promises it makes before an election might make you think it can.

We live in an over populated world with countries competing against each other to attain a higher standard of living. I think we have mortgaged the future, as many other countries have, by living on credit and paying ourselves far too much.

First home buyers, baby bonuses, maternity leave etc are all bribes made by governments that make us complacent about being self sufficient. I have been made redundant and fired many times in my working life, but I have never been on the dole. I have picked myself up and started again. I have only taken one genuine sick day in 60 years. and recently took a job delivering pamphlets for some extra money and I'm nearly 80.

We are all over paid and it should be remembered that whatever "gift" we get from the government comes out of someone else's pocket.