Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

The incoming Australian government, as the Treasurer has just told the parliament, has put aside substantial amounts of financial support for the Australian car industry. There is still significant financial support available before 2015, when the second $1 billion that the Treasurer referred to kicks into action. We want a strong car industry in Australia. Holden has been very much a part of the Australian way of life for as long as all of us can remember, but Holden also needs to be up-front with its workers and tell them what its intentions are for the Australian car industry.

The review that we are undertaking will help to plot a future for the industry. It will endeavour to look at ways in which that industry can prosper in the future. But, certainly, it would help the car industry enormously if the carbon tax were to be abolished. By abolishing the carbon tax, you save about $400 on the construction costs of each vehicle, and that would really be something worthwhile.

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