GILLARD’S CARBON TAX TO FORCE CAR GIANTS TO LEAVE AUSTRALIA
27-June-2011
Car manufacturers are fed up with the Gillard Government’s incompetence, deception and hostility, and are now being forced offshore.
In the latest damage caused to Australia’s car sector by the Government’s atrocious policies, Holden CEO Mike Devereux has warned the future of his company and its 4,700 jobs in Australia is now under review because of concerns about sovereign risk – including as a result of the looming carbon tax.
“The Government is jeopardising the future of Australian businesses and our economic credibility – because it hasn’t got a clue about how an economy works or what is needed for its growth,” said Shadow Industry Minister Sophie Mirabella.
“Mr Devereux’s comments today point again to the disastrous consequences of the Government’s policy duplicity and inconsistency – and the damaging uncertainty it is creating through its lack of vision and direction.
“It’s extraordinary that we should now learn there was no consultation and not even so much as a phone call to the car industry before the Government broke close to $2 billion worth of promises to it earlier this year.
“What makes it even worse is the Government demanded access to detailed long-term business plans from the carmakers as a condition of establishing those policies in the first place.
“After all of the errors and misjudgements, the least it can now do is ditch its ridiculous carbon tax – which will be the final straw for the many Australian businesses that are already struggling against international competition.
“The Government has gone beyond simply being an embarrassing joke – it now represents a wilful threat to Australia’s very future.”