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

I thank Senator Madigan for his question and for his interest in manufact­uring, particularly automotive manufactur­ing, which I think he appreciates is an interest that I share. I am familiar with Blade Electric Vehicles, and I have had the oppor­tunity to visit the plant and to drive a vehicle. I am advised, however, Senator Madigan, that the Australian International Motor Show which was held in Melbourne was jointly organised by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.

The government does not provide any financial support for the motor shows and has no part in the organisation of those shows. I understand that the government did, however, provide support to Blade Electric Vehicles in August 2008. Blade was in fact awarded $120,000 in funding in that year to develop its battery management system, BMS, and its conversion technology facilita­ting full electric vehicle retrofit applications for the smaller car sector. The project was in fact successfully concluded in 2010. I believe that the company is a good company and it is undertaking innovative products. The question of its relationship with General Motors is, however, a commercial one. The sourcing of the bodies that it is using is based on its commercial arrangements with resp­ective companies. So it is not a question that the government has sought to intervene in regarding those commercial arrangements between General Motors and Blade.