1. The Wake-Up Call
When Australians dialled 000 and no one answered, lives were lost.
Not because of lack of technology, but because a company handed its core technical competency offshore to save a few dollars.
This is not just an Optus problem. It’s the symptom of a wider rot: years of outsourcing, offshoring, and hollowing out our nation’s capability to run its own critical infrastructure.
Every time a board trades local expertise for cheaper labour overseas, we lose more than jobs: we lose control, safety, and trust.
2. The Core Beliefs
We believe that:
- Safety comes first. Essential services like emergency response, power, banking, and communications must be operated by people who understand our systems, laws, and context — here in Australia.
- Transparency is non-negotiable. Australians have a right to know which parts of their essential services are managed offshore.
- Accountability matters. Executives and boards must be held responsible when offshoring decisions lead to systemic failures.
- Local capability is national resilience. Keeping knowledge and skills within our borders safeguards jobs, innovation, and security.
3. The Consumer Demands
We call for:
- Public disclosure laws — companies must publish where their technical, customer, and operational teams are located.
- “Maintained in Australia” labelling — similar to “Made in Australia,” so consumers can make informed choices.
- Regulatory accountability — executives and boards who offload critical systems overseas and cause harm must face legal consequences.
- Support for local jobs and training — investing in Australian talent, apprenticeships, and tech education instead of offshoring knowledge.
4. What We’re Doing
We’re voting with our wallets.
We’re switching to companies that keep their operations local, and we’re building a public registry of who does and doesn’t.
We will:
- Share information on which providers truly operate onshore.
- Expose misleading “local support” claims.
- Push regulators and politicians to introduce offshoring transparency laws.
5. The Pledge
I pledge to support companies that keep Australia’s critical services in Australian hands.
I will spend my money with providers that value local jobs, accountability, and transparency.
I believe safety, trust, and sovereignty should never be outsourced.
6. Join the Movement
This isn’t about politics — it’s about principles.
If you believe in safety, accountability, and local resilience, then join us.
- Tag with #KeepItLocal
- Help map local providers
- Share your findings, your switches, and your stories
Together, we can rebuild the trust that’s been sold off — one decision at a time.
7. Resources – Who’s Keeping It Local 🇦🇺
(This list is community-sourced and evolving. We’re not endorsing any brand—only highlighting providers that claim or demonstrate Australian-based operations. Always verify directly before switching.)