Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Farrell, McEwen and Wong, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes That the car industry contributes $21.5 billion to Australian gross domestic product and That the loss of the car industry would see the loss of 33 000 jobs in Melbourne and 6 600 jobs in Adelaide by 2018;

(b) congratulates South Australian Premier, Mr Jay Weatherill, and the South Australian Government on its 'More than Cars' campaign which seeks to create public consensus across the country for national investment in the car industry; and

(c) urges the Abbott Government to immediately announce a financial package to attract private investment in the car industry which will ensure that we secure the future of the industry for the long term.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I support this motion but I want to put on the record that the estimate of 6,600 jobs which could be lost in Adelaide if the automotive industry shuts down is actually quite conservative. There are other studies by the South Australian government and other economists which indicate that the job losses could be up to 17,000 in South Australia.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Greens will be supporting this motion, but we are concerned about more money being put into the automotive industry without a clear vision for ensuring that the automotive industry is going to be there for the long term. We have to be investing in innovation—innovation that moves us away from fossil fuels. We should be doing that. My home state is South Australia, as it is for Senator Xenophon and all the senators who have put their name to this motion. We should be becoming the electric car capital of the country. If we do not start building the cars that people want to drive, there will be no security for jobs.

Question agreed to.