Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his question. We should never underestimate the resilience of manufacturing. I ask the Liberal Party to take note of that. This is an industry that has shown again and again that it can evolve and reinvent itself in response to new demands and new challenges. After being hit hard by the global recession the sector is expanding again and has been doing so since August. New loan commitments from manufacturing rose dramatically in the September quarter. The supply of credit remains tight, but at least things are moving in the right direction. Yesterday we learnt that Holden would be reintroducing a second shift at the Port Melbourne engine plant to fill the growing export orders. These are timely reminders that manufacturing is here to stay. It is an industry on which Australia can and will build a future. It is a pity the Liberal Party did not understand that.