Tariffs did work but we had about 1/5 the choice when it came to purchasing products. Take for example how easy it is to import US muscle cars and parts now compared to 20 years ago.
Australia's one strength on world markets lies on exporting agricultural and basic resources. We have never been able to compete with manufactured goods. Freight kills it when people can source the same product closer.
That's the black and white. Sadly it has laid is open to competing with countries with lower cost of production. So perhaps you can't have manufacturing and high wages and have a large consumer choice on the shelves in Australia anymore?
There is not much to achieve by blaming either side of politics. They are both totally run by economics. No thought for future growth these days. We are all the same though. We want it all now and can't put plans in place that will bear fruit in later years.