My core principle is all-embracing: Let's stick together - it works
We all know the challenges ahead and they are very evident in Tasmania where I visited this week. And where the new government will almost certainly pick up seats to ensure victory. The old Apple Isle knows all about modern economic challenges. It's been through it all and the apple industry itself is a microcosm of what we all face one way or another.
The first Tasmanian apple tree was planted by William Bligh on Bruny Island in 1788 and, by 1860, 120 varieties of apple were under production.
It became a booming export industry that peaked in the 1920s and '30s but fell dramatically when Britain joined the European Common Market in the '70s.
The industry has declined ever since and it's sad to report that 2012 was the first year in 130 years in which no apples were exported overseas at all from Tasmania.
The high dollar has not helped, nor has the fact that there is no international freight terminal in Tasmania. Growers have been trying to contend with the alarming fact that the cost of shipping to the international freight terminals in Melbourne was $4500 per container while the cost from Australia to most Asian ports was $3000 a container.
About 60 families grow the marvellous fruit that may well keep the doctor away but had no similar effect on the bank manager.
There is real hope emerging for Australian agriculture with Woolies' recent announcement that it will now buy all its fruit and veg in Australia. How good is that? Woolworths CEO and former Tasmanian Grant O'Brien could return as king of the island tomorrow except that they want to erect a statue of him in Shepparton and every other fruit growing town in Australia.
Our country has been fractured and divided by this election and the period of political instability that preceded it. It's time for us to come together and stick together and not let old divisions get in the way of achieving the prosperity that can be ours.
In my corporate world, we were often under attack by international behemoths made up of many smaller companies. The main reason that we could beat them at every turn was that our group stuck together while their network of companies remained divided.
Unity is power and if we want to be our best we need to be able to show the world that we work together as one.
And speaking of apples, a good place for the new government to start would be in the Big Apple.
Labor recently appointed Steve Bracks as Australia's consul-general to New York but the word is that Libs think a Labor man shouldn't have the job and his commission should be withdrawn to allow a Liberal supporter to look after Australia's interests in the world's biggest economy.
Well, I make no apology for the fact that I am a friend of Bracksy. And the main reason is that I have come to see that he always puts people ahead of party or any other sectional interest. Jeff Kennett was a fine premier of Victoria but so was Bracks. We should let him use his skills in a new era of national unity that is led by a new government for all Australians. Sticking together works.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The article outlines a long decline in the Tasmanian apple industry: planted in 1788, it peaked in the 1920s–30s and fell sharply after Britain joined the European Common Market in the 1970s. By 2012 no apples were exported overseas from Tasmania for the first time in 130 years. Around 60 families still grow apples there. For everyday investors, this highlights how structural changes in trade, currency and logistics can transform regional industries and the companies linked to them.
The article points to logistics as a major issue: Tasmania has no international freight terminal, forcing growers to use terminals in Melbourne. The reported cost was about $4,500 per container to Melbourne, compared with roughly $3,000 per container for shipments from elsewhere in Australia to many Asian ports. Those higher domestic shipping costs have hurt Tasmanian exporters' competitiveness.
According to the article, the high Australian dollar has not helped Tasmanian apple growers. A stronger currency makes exports less price-competitive overseas, compounding the region’s other problems like freight costs and lack of direct international terminals.
Woolworths (referred to as 'Woolies' in the article) announced it will now buy all its fruit and vegetables in Australia. The piece frames that decision as a positive development for Australian agriculture, offering real hope to growers who have been struggling with export and cost pressures.
The author describes experience in the corporate world where a united group could outcompete larger international rivals made up of divided companies. The message is that 'unity is power' — cooperation within a group can be a practical competitive advantage, a theme the article suggests applies both to business groups and to national economic recovery.
The article notes an expected change of government (a Coalition government) and urges national unity to tackle economic challenges. It implies that political stability and policies supportive of domestic industries could be important for agricultural markets. The piece also references a political appointment (see next FAQ) as an example of how politics and governance can intersect with national economic interests.
Steve Bracks, a former Victorian premier, was appointed by Labor as Australia’s consul-general to New York. The article says some Liberals thought a Labor-aligned appointee shouldn’t hold the post and might seek to replace him, but the author defends Bracks, noting his focus on people ahead of party and suggesting he could serve national interests in New York.
Key takeaways are: regional industries can be heavily affected by trade shifts and currency movements (Tasmanian apples); logistics infrastructure and shipping costs matter for export viability; large domestic buyers (like Woolworths) buying locally can support growers; and political stability and cooperative approaches — both in business groups and nationally — are presented as important for economic prosperity. These themes can be useful context when evaluating businesses tied to Australian agriculture.
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