Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am loving my footwear today. Who doesn't love the Aussie ugg boots? They're as Australian as Vegemite, the Hill's hoist and, my favourite, the budgie smuggler—preferably not with Tony Abbott in them. No pun intended. Uggs were invented in the 1930s, and Aussie surfers made them popular in the 1970s. One of those surfers was Brian Smith, and he saw an opportunity. He moved to the states and trademarked the UGG boot name. Seventeen years later he sold the company for millions to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, a multinational company worth billions.

I wasn't happy about that. It just seems wrong for a US company to own such an Aussie iconic name. We still have companies in Australia making the traditional ugg boots. Look for that 'Made in Australia' sign, guys; it's got to have Skippy on it. But our Australian ugg boot makers are being bullied by Deckers, the company that bought the Aussie founder out. When an American bought a pair of Aussie made uggs from an Australian ugg company—and good on you, by the way, to that American for buying Australian—Deckers sued that company for using the UGG name and stopped them from using the name to sell their products in the United States. This is despite the fact that the US has allowed other generic name products from Japan, Mexico, Hungary and many others but not Australia. How about that?

That was a hint of where we are now. America is no longer our mate. The Aussie ugg boot makers asked for the US Supreme Court to hear the case, and, of course, they were turned down. Now Aussie ugg boot makers want to take their case to the World Trade Organization, but here's the brick wall—this government and Minister Farrell apparently couldn't give a stuff. In this David and Goliath battle, they have chosen a side, and it's USA all the way. This government loves to talk about a future made in Australia. Here is a perfect opportunity to stand up for Aussie manufacturers, but they have basically told them to get stuffed.

I couldn't find Aussie ugg boots with Skippy attached in the local Canberra shopping centre, in Myer or in David Jones. If the government was serious about making Australian made again, they would give these Aussie companies the money they need to fight for our Aussie-made ugg boots at the World Trade Organization. It would probably cost a lot less than the money this government throws around trying to stop documents being released under the freedom-of-information rules. Get this, Australians: this government has spent nearly a million bucks trying to stop Rex Patrick from getting documents on everything from robodebt to radioactive waste management and oil and gas taxation. That's a million dollars of taxpayers' money used to hide information from the Australian people. So why can't Minister Farrell find the money to back our Aussie ugg makers?

This government says they want a future made in Australia; I want Australia to make again now. So what is going on? I have to say: here it is for people that want to see it. It's called the Aussie ugg. It's got Skippy on it.

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, you know you're not allowed to use props.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, they haven't been 'glambified' yet. We haven't put the bling on them, but it's coming. So I have to say that you talk about future made in Australia. How about the future starts today? How about you back our uggs? How about you back our sheep out there and you find them another home since you've dismantled live sheep exportation? You have a perfect shot here to put the Aussie ugg boot out on the map again. You have an opportunity today to fight for our sheepskin in this country and to take on Donald Trump and the United States of America.

I have to say to you: if you don't have the guts and the courage to do this for an Aussie company and to give it a fair go in the United States of America, then what courage do you actually ever have to show the people of Australia you are prepared to take on Trump? It's the perfect opportunity. But, once again, Senator Farrell, where are you? Where are you backing them? Why aren't you backing this company? They're Australian made; they're as Australian as it gets. It's disappointing, Minister Farrell. You have one last chance. Skippy and I are on the hop and I'm on the pouch, and we're coming to the World Trade Organization.