Tomago's potential demise highlights the challenges of the "Made in Australia" concept.
A recent week saw a surge in protectionism, with billionaires Andrew Forrest and Harvey Norman's Katie Page backing a News Corp campaign to reboot domestic manufacturing.
Andrew Forrest, a billionaire who ships iron ore to China, and Katie Page, whose retail chain sells imported electronic goods, supported the campaign.
A sound commercial decision by Rio regarding Tomago's future could provide pushback against corporate bailout culture.
Author's summary: Tomago's struggles question the viability of "Made in Australia".