Scanned copy of submission

Tuffa Workwear Pty Ltd
A.C.N. 096 979 832  .  A.B.N. 70 173 569 191

	73-77 Geddes Street
	Mulgrave  Vic  3170

	Telephone: 03 9599 0900
	Facsimile: 03 9561 4088
	Email: tuffa@tuffa.com.au

	24th February 2003

TCF Review 
P.0 Box 80 
Belconnen ACT 2616

To Whom It May Concern:

RE: TARIFF CAMPAIGN

We are writing to express our concern at the forthcoming reduction of the tariffs in 2005. We are an Australian manufacturer of workwear who employs in excess of 53 staff. We purchase only Australian fabrics through Bruck textiles and make all our products in‑house at our Victorian factory.

If the tariffs are reduced as proposed in 2005 by the government it will threaten the jobs of our 53 staff and may result in the closure of our factory. We will have no option but to start importing garments from offshore and reduce our workforce to a small warehousing facility. This may result in our workforce who has young families being forced onto the welfare system.

We have witnessed over the last two years a flood of imported workwear into the Australian market from countries such as China, Vientiane and Fiji to such an extent that our core product has moved from 80% of our business to 25%.

This reduction in tariffs would be devastating for Australian manufacturing and Australian jobs. How will we be able to remain competitive against imported garments when the tariffs fall? Why isn't the government working to improve Australian manufacturing and Australian jobs rather than trying to extinguish them?

This country is supposedly built around small to medium enterprises, but there comes a point in time were it all becomes too difficult (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE LUCKY COUNTRY?).

It is my plea along with my workers to please assist in the campaign to stop tariff reductions and save the jobs of TCF workers.

If you have any further queries in relation to my position with the tariff reductions please contact me on the above number.

Yours sincerely 
Tuffa Workwear Pty Ltd

JOHN K BROWN 
Managing Director