What Does Australian Made Products Really Mean?
What “Australian-made” really means for your business
When you see the Australian Made logo, it’s easy to assume it means 100% made in Australia.
You’re not alone! Most business owners think every part of the product must be created here on home soil. After all, the green and gold mark feels like a guarantee of local jobs, craftsmanship, and trust.
But here’s where the confusion begins.
Under ACCC guidelines, a product can still be labelled “Australian-made” even if it includes imported parts, so long as it goes through substantial transformation in Australia and at least 40% of production costs are added locally.
That sounds simple, but in practice it leaves most first-time product makers with more questions than answers.
🎥 Watch: What “Australian-made” really means for businesses like yours
Still unsure what counts as truly “Australian made”? In this short video, we break down the rules and explain how local sourcing really works in practice.
The challenges founders face
If you’re like most business owners, you’re caught between:
- Values vs budget → you want to support local jobs, but costs look higher.
- Trust vs uncertainty → you’re not sure what “substantial transformation” really covers.
- Ambition vs overwhelm → you want to move fast, but you don’t know where to start sourcing.
These aren’t just small details. They’re the stumbling blocks that stop good ideas from ever reaching customers.
“Isn’t local manufacturing too expensive?”
This is the #1 worry and it keeps many people from even starting.
But the reality? Plenty of successful products have launched in Australia on tiny budgets.
One standout example: a snowboarder who designed an off-season skateboard.
It combined local and imported components, was assembled right here in Australia, and cost less than $200 to bring to life.
Within three months, it generated over $7,000 in profit.
It proves that making it in Australia doesn’t have to break the bank, if you know how to approach it.
Why local sourcing still matters
Even if not every nut and bolt comes from here, choosing local suppliers where possible gives you:
- Jobs and skills → supporting Australian workers and industries.
- Speed → shorter supply chains and fewer delays.
- Transparency and trust → customers value honesty more than perfection.
- Control → better oversight of quality and production.
Done right, sourcing locally gives you a competitive edge because people want to back brands that do the right thing.
You could figure it out alone… but why risk it?
Yes, you could spend months googling suppliers, chasing quotes, and second-guessing Australian made rules. But most DIY attempts lead to:
- Costly mistakes.
- Blown timelines.
- Products that don’t meet customer expectations.
- A shed full of products that don’t sell.
Or… you could take the shortcut.
Our 3-day “How to Buy Australian Made” online workshop is designed to remove the overwhelm.
Guided by sourcing expert Steve Eagle (who’s delivered $1.8 billion in projects across 3,800 products), you’ll discover how to:
- Avoid the rookie mistakes that cost new founders thousands.
- Navigate country-of-origin claims and ACCC rules with confidence.
- Work with the right mix of local suppliers and imported components.
- Build a sourcing process you can repeat as you grow.
Instead of wasting months guessing, you’ll have a proven roadmap so you can move forward with clarity, speed, and confidence.
Steve Eagle
Steve Eagle is a product sourcing expert who’s managed over $1.8 billion in projects, helping businesses connect with trusted Australian manufacturers.
Are shoppers willing to pay more for Australian-made?
If Aussie shoppers are ready to spend more, why are they buying imports? Wonder if local manufacturing is worth it?