Today’s announcement of casual job losses at Holden means that Tony Abbott and his shadow cabinet must stop playing games with the jobs of the 200 000 Australian auto workers, and today reverse his commitment to cut $500 million from the auto industry.
AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver said:
“The 350 job losses at Toyota last week and today’s announcement at Holden demonstrate the acute pressure the auto industry is under because of the record high exchange rate.
“Every day that Tony Abbott fails to match the government’s commitment to invest in the auto industry is a day that Detroit and Tokyo worry that their investment in Australia is at risk. Every day, the jobs of Australians in this crucial sector are at risk because of Tony Abbott.
“This sector is too important to walk away from. Job losses at Toyota hurt. Every job loss at Holden hurts. But we cannot walk away from 46 000 direct jobs and 200 000 auto jobs overall. In the long term we will need these jobs, their skills and our diverse economic base more than ever.
“If Tony Abbott is prepared to pull out investment and put these 200 000 jobs in jeopardy then his credibility of manufacturing is in tatters.
“Today the AMWU has launched a campaign targeting members of the shadow cabinet with significant manufacturing employment in their seats. For example, Sophie Mirabella, Ian MacFarlane and Warren Truss all have more than 5000 and up to 7800 manufacturing workers in their electorates.
“The government has made an important commitment to invest in a competitive, innovative future after an extensive review of the auto industry. This commitment is working despite the exchange rate, as demonstrated by the Holden Cruze, which was introduced to Australia as an Australian made car in 2011.
“Our industry is competitive and can continue to employ 200 000 Australians, but only if we keep up the investment we make along with car companies, in the future of the industry.
“If Tony Abbott won’t match that commitment, he does not care about Australian manufacturing or the one million people it employs."