Nike in Australia
In Australia, Nike shoes and sports clothing manufactured in Indonesia, Thailand or China, are just as popular as they are elsewhere and the company is one of the leaders in the local market. Michael Jordan has just as much drawing power here as he has in other places.
In ] 993 Nike Australia Pty Ltd began signing up local sporting heroes - including Steve Moneghetti, Shane Warne and Cathy Freeman. The aim is to change the image of Nike from an American brand to that of "a global brand that has a lot of empathy with Australian sport" according to Ben Buckley, former Australian Rules football player and marketing manager for Nike in Australia. (Martini 1995: 18, 23).
The company became the object of some controversy in March 1995 when it was named in Federal Parliament by Victorian MP Peter Cleeland as one of 40 clothing labels whose products he claimed were being made by exploited outworkers in Australia - that is women, usually migrants, sewing garments at home who are paid a small amount per piece rather than per hour worked.