Put your thinking caps on how you would deal with these scenarios

[Beardy]

It is almost a regression ( for want of a better word) to return to micro economies so that you can be self sustainable , I don’t know how you put the genie back in the bottle.

It will be interesting to hear some thoughts on this.

[rwbuild]

Its not about putting the genie back in the bottle, its about be self sufficient when things go pear shaped and we have to rely on our OWN SOVEREIGNTY and self sufficiency all be it at a reduced domestic/trade/commercial/international diplomatic situation. We still have a place in the world but we don't have to become a Cuba or Nth Korea, that's unrealistic and definitely unwanted.
China has clearly told us where we fit into their scheme of things and that's not where we want to be.
Its not an easy fix and will require a quantum shift in the psychic of every Australian, I know this all sounds altruistic but it has to happen, so lets get some constructive ideas happening, come on, we are a lateral thinking problem solving mob here and our history proves it.

[BobL]

So far the majority of comments have revolved around what we used to do well before and the why we went OS.
BUT, thinking caps on, what DO WE DO NOW and HOW. Identify the needs, what are the components, how do we source/manufacture, what is the business model and how to make it sustainable.

Well the most critical components have already been identified.
Medicines, water treatment chemicals, copper (yes copper when we have some of the biggest copper mines around) and fuel seem to need immediate attention.
From Think of coronavirus as a test run: Australian military leaders warn we must prepare for worse - ABC News
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But long terms we need to change our workforce and infra structure, decentralise power, incentives to localised production.
Carrots and sticks will need to be employed.

[rwbuild]

Yes, you are repeating what has been made obvious especially in hindsight of covid, now work on the HOW, join the dots with tangible, quantifiable strategies and structure. Its very easy to recognise the problem BUT what are the steps to manage it. Dancing around the edge doesn't help, lets start with building the framework which will give rise to component then detail. What are the issues that impact those strategies? Adopt a holistic approach to those areas in the article.

[BobL]

Yes, you are repeating what has been made obvious especially in hindsight of covid, now work on the HOW, join the dots with tangible, quantifiable strategies and structure. Its very easy to recognise the problem BUT what are the steps to manage it. Dancing around the edge doesn't help, lets start with building the framework which will give rise to component then detail. What are the issues that impact those strategies? Adopt a holistic approach to those areas in the article.

The first thing is to deem certain materials as critical to national sovereignty.
This will have to be done by committee - Oh dear that could be the end of it, OTOH it might be something useful Dutton could assist with for the country.

Mandate that (especially where used in critical infrastructure) these materials can only be purchased from Australian owned companies that manufacture these where possible from all Australian raw materials.

The suppliers and/or entities that use critical chemicals/bits should be required to maintain a distributed stockpile.

In the case of water treatment this will be reflected in your water rates - some people won't like that but that's the price of vigilance.
It could also drive up the price of other things like say pool chemicals ?

The same could apply to fuel - are you prepared to pay say $2.50/L for fuel.

Once materials are at least in part sorted then products could be targeted in the same way, are you prepared to pay double for your meds?

A more long term approach to fuel really requires a complete overhaul of energy policy in this country. In exactly the same way as improved fuel economy targets we reached mandate that the AUS vehicle fleet reaches electric vehicle ownership over a period of time. This reduces the need for imported fuel - this should have been done ages go. An even more serious approach would be to make our own vehicles or at least our own batteries. Why aren't superfunds involved here?

But while the monied moguls have their hands in the multinational corporate till, and the great unwashed continue to buy cheap crap, none of this will happen. It will take more than the state of the current pandemic to trigger these things