Multi-millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith has delivered a major wake-up call over fears that Australia is becoming overly dependent on foreign nations, urging citizens to start their own businesses and build national self-reliance.
His call comes as a new survey from the General Intelligence Centre reveals overwhelming public backing for local industries, with 98 per cent of respondents stating Australia should be self-reliant in farming and energy production.
The poll also found that 92 per cent of people believe the nation ought to produce its own medicines and medical supplies, while 91 per cent favoured greater self-sufficiency in manufacturing.
Mr Smith, a long-time advocate for Australian enterprise who founded Dick Smith Electronics in 1968 and later created Dick Smith Foods, said rebuilding domestic manufacturing must become a national priority.
He encouraged younger generations to follow his lead and embrace entrepreneurship to help restore local production capabilities.
"It would be great if we could get back into manufacturing again. I'm a total supporter," Mr Smith said.
"I think that will happen when wages in China increase as standards of living rise and that will make us competitive again. I'd like to enthuse young people into starting their own business. It's what I did when I was 22 and it's what young people should be doing."
Public support for local manufacturing
The General Intelligence Centre survey highlighted widespread public concern among Australians regarding reliance on international supply chains.
About nine in 10 Australians surveyed stated that the country should manufacture more of the goods it consumes, even if that means paying higher prices at retail outlets.
Roughly 80 per cent of respondents expressed concern over current import levels, while three-quarters supported imposing restrictions or quotas on foreign products entering the market.
Mr Smith stressed that Australian consumers can directly strengthen domestic industries by selecting home-grown products on supermarket shelves.
"We should have the best food and the lowest prices in the world because we've got such large areas and a small population," he said.
Call to support Aussie agriculture
In addition to his commercial ventures, Mr Smith is an active farmer who raises lambs, making agricultural self-reliance a personal priority.
"I've got a farm myself where we raise lambs. I totally support our Aussie farmers and ask Australians to support Australian products," Mr Smith said.
The survey results point to growing public momentum for government policies aimed at protecting domestic producers and reducing vulnerability to global trade disruptions.
Last year, Mr Smith partnered with Fortescue Metals founder Andrew Forrest and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page to launch the Back Australia campaign.
That national initiative called for a "new industrial revolution" driven by Australian-owned businesses and local manufacturing expansion.
Pressure on government to act
Mr Smith criticized successive governments, stating they have spent decades failing to properly champion local products out of concern over how multinational companies might react.
He urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take a firm stance against foreign lobbyists and launch a national campaign encouraging Australians to buy local.
"I will ask Mr Albanese to be strong, to stand up to those foreign lobbyists and say 'No, we're going to support Australian Made and Australian Owned and we're going to run a campaign like we did successfully a number of decades ago to get Australians to support the home team,'" Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said a renewed national campaign promoting Australian products could help strengthen domestic industries, create local jobs, and encourage consumers to buy from Australian-owned businesses.
