Geoblock Committees

Government committees; amazing how they spend a lot of time and money to come up with findings we already know. One of the latest was information technology (IT) products cost more in Australia than in the USA. A trip to the local computer store armed with a smart phone would give you confirmation. Admittedly I’m focusing on one part of the year long committee sittings however a recommendation that causes concern for local businesses, not just IT ones, is: “educate Australian consumers and businesses as to:
– the extent to which they may circumvent geoblocking mechanisms in order to access cheaper legitimate goods”.
My simple interpretation of this is teaching us how to buy products from overseas at the prices the local’s pay. Some of you are saying, ‘we already know how, Google tells you anyway’. Where is the benefit to our local businesses? They may be able to source cheaper products but if everyone is going to be educated why will consumers buy in Australia. What impact will this have on GST? Why when educated on how to ‘circumvent geoblocking mechanisms’ will Australian consumers stop with buying IT products, why not clothes, shoes, jewellery, perfumes, etc., etc. I know it is already happening but do we really expect the Australian Government to spend money educating us to buy from overseas. I obviously need to be smarter to understand how the Australian economy is going to be better for having an environment not conducive to manufacturing, but let’s now make it harder for retail too. The benefit of cheaper products only materialises if you’re earning an income to afford them, usually this means being employed. In my mind less businesses here in Australia means less jobs; can someone explain how I’ve got this wrong. Each community needs to educate its citizens on the benefits of ‘keeping it local’. Where will our kids get jobs if we don’t spend our money locally or at least in Australia? If you’re into Facebook ‘like’ the Keep it Local Project Rockhampton page and start helping ourselves, because if the Government thinks they are helping by encouraging us to buy overseas I don’t see a bright future for local businesses particularly in regional centres. Our community’s aspirations need a strong business base, surely a Government committee must realise this.