Should Australia “Make Things Again”? - ep302 - (Economics Explored) Podcast Details

Description

“Make things again” — it’s a powerful slogan. But what does it really mean for Australia’s economy, workers, and national security? Show host Gene Tunny and Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance Chief Economist John Humphreys dig into the heart of the debate, from the politics of nostalgia to the realities of automation and global trade. A thought-provoking conversation about whether Australia can, or should, bring manufacturing back home.

Gene would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. You can email him via contact@economicsexplored.com.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction – Why “Make Things Again” is back in the headlines
01:40 – From CIS Consilium to the manufacturing debate
06:15 – The political appeal of “making things again”
12:50 – Australia’s car industry and economic reality
16:55 – What policy tools are we really talking about?
21:45 – The energy policy civil war on the right
27:50 – Legitimate arguments for tariffs: revenue & security
31:30 – National security, China, and economic resilience
40:10 – Automation and the meaning of work
44:55 – The future of the centre-right
48:25 – Wrap-up: where the new right might go
49:00 – Outro – national security, critical minerals & what’s next

Takeaways

Automation has changed everything – Even if manufacturing expands, the old factory jobs aren’t coming back; future growth will be in advanced, high-value sectors.
Politics vs economics – “Made in Australia” is powerful politically, but protectionism risks higher costs and lower productivity.
National security is a legitimate concern – But it needs a framework; not everything can be justified in its name.
Energy costs are critical – High power prices are a big constraint on manufacturing.
Meaningful work matters – Many calls for reindustrialisation reflect cultural and social concerns about meaning, not just economics.