Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Gallacher for his question. Mr Devereux is obviously expressing the problem I described in the Senate on Monday. The opposition's formally stated policy of slashing $1.5 billion in support for the auto sector is creating great uncertainty right across the industry. On top of that, we know that there is considerable conflict within the opposition as we have seen a variety of messages from Liberal Party representatives. For example, in September Ms Mirabella stated that the coalition did not support Ford and Holden payments and earlier this year Mr Abbott, the Leader of the Opposition, made it clear that all funding for the automotive sector will cease in 2015 in line with the Howard government's plans. He said:

…the quantum of support for the car industry should be that committed by the Howard government and that remains our policy.

No wonder the car industry is at a loss to know what the opposition's policy is. The coalition's policy for the car industry is that of a job wrecker. It would jeopardise around a quarter of a million jobs in the auto manufacturing sector. It is the height of hypocrisy for Mr Hockey and Ms Mirabella to lament recent job losses at Ford while at the same time advocating a policy that would destroy the industry.

The relentless negativity of the opposition has manifested itself in this job-wrecking stance, even when confronted with the facts of the matter and the job losses. This is a great example because it exposes the shallow spin by the opposition, as we heard reported in the press this morning, where they dream up a policy in the party room about jobs, but when the rubber hits the road they are going to wreck the automotive sector because they are going to cut the funding. If they were serious about policy they would support our $5.4 billion new car plan. (Time expired)