“The Ford factory in Broadmeadows is a large provider of local jobs. Between its Broadmeadows and Geelong sites, Ford hires some 3000 workers.”
“It is in the interests of all involved to reach an equitable agreement and I urge all parties to work towards this end” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“In the end, workers at Ford are caught in the middle of this stand off. It is a situation that they didn’t create, but one for which they will have to pay the ultimate price if a resolution is not found.”
“The collapse of the car parts manufacturer Coghlan & Russell Engineering due to falling sales once again highlights the precariousness of Australia’s car manufacturing industry. It is an industry that continues to struggle given falling domestic car sales and the growing popularity of imported cars that are more suited to today’s changing car market.”
“It is but another example of how the problems faced by Australia’s struggling car industry affect a whole range of different businesses and countless Australian workers who deserve certainty and job security” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“The answer to Australia’s car manufacturing crisis lies in long term solutions, not short term quick fixes. If they are to survive and prosper, Australian car manufacturers need to adapt to a rapidly changing car market in which people are buying smaller, more economical cars. Additional commonwealth support in the areas of research and development is particularly crucial, especially when it comes to the development of alternative fuel supplies” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“We should be focusing on developing cheaper and cleaner alternative fuels in Australia, and on producing the sort of cars that Australian’s are now buying.”
“Labor’s $500 million ‘Green Car Innovation Fund’ is designed to do just this. It will generate $2 billion in investment to secure jobs in the local automotive industry and to assist with the manufacture of low emission vehicles in Australia.”
“Producing Australian cars that are both energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, means producing the sort of cars that consumers are now interested in buying” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Contact: Alex Kouttab
