Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry Senator Ronaldson. I note the Holden submission to the Productivity Commission states:

From 2001-2012, Holden generated $32.7 billion of economic activity in Australia. During that period, Holden received $1.8 billion in Commonwealth Government assistance, returned $1.4 billion to the Government as PAYG income tax revenue and paid $21 billion to other businesses in Australia for supplies and services.

Can the minister confirm the accuracy of the figures in Holden's submission? Can the minister also confirm that 18 to one is the return on investment in Holden?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable senator for his question in relation to funding for the Australian automotive sector. I do note that up until 2015, under the Automotive Transformation Scheme, the car industry received about $1 billion of taxpayers' funds, and from 2015 on there will be a further $1 billion of taxpayers' funds. I think what the automotive industry needs—and I think what the automotive workers need—is for Holden to state their intentions. In question time today the Deputy Prime Minister indicated that he had written to Holden today requesting that they state their intentions before Christmas. This government has quite clearly made several significant decisions which will positively impact on the automotive sector and industry generally. The first of those, of course, is to remove Labor's toxic carbon tax, which has not only impacted dramatically on the automotive sector, but has also impacted—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Ronaldson, Senator Moore is on her feet. I will ask you to resume your seat.

Honourable senators interjecting—

When there is silence on both sides. Senator Moore is on her feet.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is to do with relevance. The minister now has 17 seconds left to go. Senator Carr's question was specifically on clarification of figures, and I would ask that to be the point of the response.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question, I do draw the minister's attention to the question with 17 seconds remaining.

Government senators interjecting—

Order! On a point of order I have asked the minister to address the question, and immediately you launch into other questions.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, Senator Carr asked me about funding for the automotive industry, and I was indeed answering his questions. It should not be forgotten that it was Senator Carr who— (Time expired)

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a supplementary question. I take it that you are able to confirm the 18 to 1 ratio, and given that you have asked specifically that General Motors provide clarification on their future, are you aware that the CEO of General Motors-Holden, Mike Devereux, today told the Productivity Commission that Holden had provided the government with the amount of co-investment that was actually required to keep them in the country? Will the government now act on Holden's request to ensure the future of automotive manufacturing in Australia?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! When there is silence on both sides we will proceed.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I am not calling the minister until there is silence on both sides.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I again confirm that this government wants a viable car manufacturing industry in this country. What the automotive industry needs—and what industry needs generally—is some stability in the decision-making process. Senator Carr belled the cat on the farce that was Labor's industry policy when he said—as Senator Abetz said yesterday and as he said in his book this year—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The question was about government actions and we have gone into context. We now have 21 seconds left to go to hear about the government's actions.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do draw the minister's attention. You have got 21 seconds remaining to address the question.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What Senator Carr said—unfortunately the Green Car Innovation Fund was abolished, leaving international company executives wondering just what they had to do to get a consistent government—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ronaldson, resume your seat. Senator Moore.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, we moved a point of order on relevance about a response to the question on government's actions and the minister has continued to read the quote that he began before the previous point of order and your direction.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had, at 21 seconds remaining in the time to address the question, asked the minister to address the question. I draw the minister's attention to the question. There are now nine seconds remaining.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I say, Senator Carr said that this left executives wondering just what they had to do to get a consistent government policy commitment in Australia.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Moore.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The minister has just continued reading a quote after you have drawn his attention twice. If they cannot answer the question now, maybe he could take it on notice.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! I cannot instruct the minister how to answer a question. I have now drawn the ministers attention to address the question at the 21-second mark and at the nine-second mark remaining to address the question. The minister should address the question. There are two seconds remaining.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong just said across the table— (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When there is silence, I will give Senator Carr the call.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a further supplementary question. I would ask you again, Minister: in view of your statement that General Motors should clarify its position, is it not true that Mr Devereux today said no decision had been made by General Motors-Holden about leaving and that the request for support had been with the government for some time?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I find it extraordinary to get a dorothy dixer at this late stage but anyway I will take it. In the letter to Mr Devereux today, the Deputy Prime Minister said the following, 'I note your statement today that "there's been no decision made at this point". However, your comments failed to provide a commitment that Holden will remain in Australia well into the future.' So what the Deputy Prime Minister has done, quite rightly, is call upon Holden to clarify what it is doing prior to Christmas. There is $1,000 million of taxpayers' funds which the Labor Party always forgets in relation to this issue, $1.4 billion of Australian— (Time expired)