Fantastic Furniture closes its last Australian factory, affecting 100 workers
Fantastic Furniture will close its final Australian manufacturing site at Fairfield East in Sydney on Friday, ending local production as it moves to an import supply model. The closure affects 100 workers and reflects the retailer’s stated aim of keeping the business financially sustainable amid rising operating costs.
The factory made a quarter of Fantastic Furniture’s lounge range and about 6 per cent of its total stock; production is expected to shift to China and Vietnam. The company says it will offer affected staff retraining, redeployment, employee assistance and outplacement services where applicable. The decision has renewed calls for fairer import duties and more support for Australian manufacturers.
In short
- Fantastic Furniture is closing its last Australian factory.
- The Fairfield East site employs 100 people.
- Production is expected to move to China and Vietnam.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Moving production offshore may be necessary to keep the retailer financially sustainable as operating costs rise. Imports could help it continue serving customers, while retraining, redeployment and outplacement support may ease the impact on affected workers.
The case against
Closing the last Australian factory ends local production and puts 100 jobs at risk, with consequences for workers and domestic manufacturing capacity. Critics may argue that fairer import duties and stronger support for local manufacturers could help businesses compete without shifting production overseas.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Fantastic Furniture to shut final Australian factory in yet another huge blow to local manufacturing”.