Envy of World Economy Belied by Ailing Australia Industries

Looking out over aging warehouses in Unanderra, two hours' drive south of Sydney, 61-year-old Tom Folino-Gallo curses the strength of the Australian dollar as truck horns blare support for picketers at a nearby factory.

“The ripple effect is more catastrophic than the Japanese tsunami in this region,” said Folino-Gallo, owner of WGE Group, which supplies steel and cement makers. “This dip on the rollercoaster is the scariest I’ve ever experienced.”