Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to speak in response to this matter of public importance because it is of great interest to people in my home state of South Australia. Before I go any further I would like to say that the good people of Wakefield nearly got it right at the last state election. The result in that electorate was so very close. I will say more about that in a minute.

I am proud to represent the interests of my electorate. It takes great pride in being in the federal coalition government, which is keeping the commitments that it made to voters in the last election. While we are on the topic of manufacturing, I would like to point out that so much of the economic wealth that comes out of Barker is directly tied to the manufacturing sector. That is why I am committed to ensuring that Australia boasts the right conditions for all of our manufacturing industries to remain competitive in the long term.

We on this side of the chamber want a viable automotive industry in Australia. We expect the car manufacturing industry, like any industry, to be able to stand on its own two feet. The Labor Party is anxiously waiting for Holden to make an announcement about its future. The Labor Party is hoping—

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