Ethics for Australian Business

Ethics for Australian Business

By Vivian Roberts

“If you do not act with integrity ... you are not likely to enjoy the kind of reputation that will keep good people in your employ, or keep customers coming back for your products or services.'' - John Ralph.

There is an often quoted saying used by those in business for immoral and unethical behaviour towards others. Chances are you have had this line used on you before; “it’s nothing personal, it’s just business”. For many, this statement justifies any wrong doing to another because it’s rationalised in the accumulation of wealth. This was exactly the case when Pacific Brands (Bonds/King Gee) CEO Sue Morphet sent the jobs of 300 Illawarra textile workers overseas. It implied that value could only be found in financial wealth, and that there is little or no value in social and ethical responsibility.

Pacific Brands came under intense public pressure with sections of the community vowing in protest to never purchase Pacific Brands products ever again. Like so many other International companies, Pacific Brands was willing to accept the short term losses and wait until public pressure subsides, public apathy kicks in and sales start to increase again. The loss of bonds to the Australian manufacturing industry was another blow in the Australian psyche, and reaffirmation that “Everything is made in China”.

BHP Billiton axed 1,800 jobs when the Ravensthorpe Nickel mine was closed in Western Australia. The impact on the town was devastating, leaving working Australians with mortgages greater than the property value of their homes. This is just another example of how the social impact of International profit mongering is the Pandora’s box of Liberal democracy.

Former Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes made the following comments after clearly recognising that business and economics are inter-related with the personal and national condition;

"But if it were a question of trade only affecting our pockets, the fiscal question might be fairly left to settle itself. But it reaches down to the very roots of our lives. You cannot proceed upon the assumption that the economic policy of a nation has no relation to its national welfare. The relations between the two are inseparable, intimate and complex. This fact is fundamental; to ignore it, is to not only to invite but to ensure national destruction”.

Australians are exposed to unethical business practices on both the micro and macro level, from the preference of cheap foreign workers over long standing Australian workers; the selling of Australian mines to foreign Governments; pollution cover-ups; insider trading; to the bribing of local Government councillors to approve developments that are not in the interests of the communities they represent. All of these examples have one thing in common; the use of economic rationalism and little consideration for social and cultural impacts as having a societal value.

The Australian Government has legislated business ethics in the framework of preserving the environment and biodiversity after long term lobbying by interested parties. State and local Governments now require land developers to engage in biodiversity impact statements and environmental management plans if their applications are to be successful. However, social and cultural impact statements largely remain the undiscovered country in terms of Australian legislation. No person or business is required to submit a cultural impact statement for the business practises they engage in, nor is alocal council under any obligation to determine if a new Mosque or Hindu temple will have any unfavourable social impacts on the local community.

It should be a legal requirement for any organisation who preferentially employees foreign 457 guest workers over local workers to complete a social and cultural impact statement. Not only should the statement cover how foreign workers will “fit” into Australian society, but whether or not they understand and accept the social norms, culture, and resource restrictions of being an Australian resident. Had cultural impact statements been performed either by large corporations or the Federal Government before large scale importation of cheap labour, it is doubtful that reactive programs (assimilation assistance) implemented by the Australian Government would have been needed. All of these problems create significant costs to the Australian taxpayer, which is a cost to society which is socialised and borne by the average Australian citizen.

In the absence of Government legislation, it is up to the Australian people to ‘vote with their feet’ when purchasing products or services, and to become comfortable with the mantra ‘my dollar is my vote’. This is now more important than ever, considering that voting for Labour or Liberal is a vote for misrepresentation.

In using purchasing power as a vote, Australians place a value in social and ethical responsibility. This same social responsibility is practised when purchasing green electricity. The cost to buy a socially, ethically and environmentally responsible product is usually greater than the cheapest standard product on the market. Yet, Australian’s continue to demand green/ renewable sources of electricity, despite the higher economic costs. Similarly, Australian’s need to demand Australian made and owned products are available to the marketplace, regardless of the higher economic costs. It is our social responsibility to ensure Australian jobs by purchasing Australian products. Become comfortable when shopping and asked by a sales assistant ‘Can I help you?’ and reply ‘yes, what products are Australian made?’. If they answer none, ask for the boss, manager or at least convey to the assistant you demand Australian made products, and shop elsewhere. Of course the assistant is not the boss but the message starts to get through via employees as well.

Consumer boycotts and responsible purchasing are effective tools to bring about necessary social change. The boycott Israel campaign is one such example of economic resistance carried out overseas on another issue to good effect.  For example, in 2004 the Presbyterian Church (US) voted 431-62 for a resolution “to initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel” because of their continued war crimes" which continued until 21 June, 2006.

Regardless of whether the state authorises official sanctions, the main value of a product boycott is to effectively empower local people to ‘self sanction, shame or bring into disrepute’. The object of the boycott is in changing behaviour to meet the expectations of the community in which an organisation resides and derives its profits. Individuals must take more responsibility for their choices in the changing of Australia’s demographic and cultural landscape. Directing personal cash flows is one of the most powerful and easy tools people can harness. If enough people get on board, a REAL powershift occurs in the community’s favour regardless of what the oft unrepresentative Australian state does.

Nationalist Alternative Ethical Business Guidelines

There is a growing trend by Australian businesses to involve themselves in what’s referred to as Ethical Business Practise; however, what is ethical business exactly, is a term not clearly defined, nor easily understood by Australian consumers. Often ethical business is represented as one that supports overseas interests such as “rainforest alliance” or “fair-trade coffee”. Often these are nothing more than marketing strategies, designed to woo people who might want to purchase ‘ethically’. Ethics therefore becomes just another commodity to buy and sell. While these products are certainly more socially responsible than their cheaper counterparts, the message to Australian consumers is often contradictory with a “Buy Australian Made” message. As such, Nationalist Alternative has developed an Australian Ethical Business code of practise supporting the local Australian workforce, with minimal social, cultural and environmental impacts.

1. Is committed to the Australian nation, its interests and its people.

2. Clearly, honestly, and accurately represents its products, services, terms and conditions.

3. In dealings with the wider community is respectful and courteous in all communication.

4. Takes responsibility for environmental, social and cultural impacts of the choices made by its employees in the service of the organisation.

5. Has environmentally, socially and culturally responsible growth targets.

6. Invests in community programs that support Australian interests.

7. Takes a pro-active stance towards up skilling: Invests in apprenticeships and mentoring programs for its employees and economically disadvantaged Australians.

8. The majority of shareholders are Australian citizens.

9. Provides a cultural working environment that supports and encourages a healthy work-life balance, one where families have the chance to spend adequate time together.

10. Maintains appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard personal information of employees and customers

By purchasing from ethically and socially responsible companies which meet the Business Ethics Guidelines, Australians can ensure the economic prosperity and social future of their country. Within a similar framework of these guidelines, the not-for-profit organisation AUSBUY was created to support and represent Australian Business. AUSBUY receives no Government funding, nor are they politically aligned; however, their position on foreign investment is quite clear.

“When we do not own our companies the decisions are not made here, the profits do not stay here and our jobs are at risk. We become tenants in our own country. The importance of a strong cultural identity is not just important for Australia’s citizens. It is also important to business, tourism and trade as it contributes to our international reputation as sophisticated, vibrant and progressive.”

Similar organisations to AUSBUY exist, including Fight back for Australia which was started in 1999 by Mike Rogers in response to predatory pricing, which caused Australian manufacturers to go out of business and then be snapped up by foreign investors. As such, he promotes a website dedicated to buying Australian made and owned grocery products. His message echoes that of Nationalist Alternative and AUSBUY. Buy Australian made and owned products. The rewards of doing so, multiply exponentially according to Mr Rogers. If we all spent an extra $50 per week more on Australian products, it would create over 100,000 Aussie jobs for Aussie workers. Currently, Australians spend $1.4 billion dollars a week on grocery items, with only 10% spent on locally made products. The benefits of buying Australian made extend not only to keeping our money in the country, but it’s also more environmentally friendly. Purchasing locally made products reduces the costs associated with transportation compared to products made overseas. For instance fruit and vegetables are a good example of our major supermarket retailers doing the wrong thing. There is something incongruous about helping Australian farming communities on the road to recovery from the devastating effects of Australia’s drought, while at the same time promoting produce like mandarins or grapefruit from Israel or California.

To identify the country of origin of a product, check the barcodes! Australian made products will have a barcode that begin with 93. Whilst not necessarily 100% accurate due to loopholes with some items not requiring compulsory country of origin labelling, the following list is helpful for avoiding non Australian made products.

00 ~ 13 USA; CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Lienchtenstein
471 is Made in Taiwan (see sample below)
628 ~ Saudi-Arabien
629 ~ United Arab Emirates
729 ~ Israel
740 ~ 745 – Central America

All 480 Codes are made in the Philippines and products made in China have a barcode beginning anywhere from 690 to 695.

Alternatively, Aussie Farmers Direct is a free home delivery service providing only Australian made and owned groceries.

The Australian people need to become more responsible with their purchasing power, and recognise the impact their choices have on society. To protect our industries, our workforce, our Nation, we must financially support those enterprises. Your dollar is your vote.

“Australians who have contributed to this country deserve this. We want all Australians to make informed decisions about where they spend their hard earned money and that the majority of it goes to other Australians. Successive generations of Australians have laboured for this country through being productive, clever and innovative, and we stand up against the best in any measure. Just ask the rest of the world how good we are.”­­ – AUSBUY