Through much of the 10 years of the Hawke Government-initiated campaign, about 2000 businesses signed up with him. At one point, Victorian licensees of the logo made up nearly half of the participants nationwide.
Ideas born of simplicity can have complicated lives.
Mr Chambers is among many Victorians seeking clarification of the scheme's fate and what can claim to be Australian made. Some of the issues may be resolved soon. Working with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, he wants the power to deem products ineligible. Against the wishes of some, the minister will not make an issue of whether the producer is Australian-owned, which is a minefield, given the complexity, variability and sensitivity of foreign ownership. A spokesman for Mr Truss said last week that Cabinet had consented to an education campaign explaining the new labelling initiatives.