Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Something has changed in the past 24 hours. Holden were told by the federal government of Australia, who were elected to govern for all, that there would be no more support and no more investment—and I believe that Holden were pushed.

The priority right now must be on the workers and their families. The Prime Minister has returned. The Prime Minister must urgently step in to deal with the mess, the chaos and the disappointment which has occurred in his absence. Labor stands ready to support these workers in whichever way we can, but the opposition does not believe that today's announcement was an ordained conclusion. We do not believe that the announcement today was the only inevitable outcome of recent weeks. We do not accept it was inevitable that this car company would make the decision, after decades of investment in this country, that it would close its businesses by 2017.

There were some examples used about other car companies that have gone and the steel industry. When those announcements were made, there were still car companies in this country. When the steel industry—

Government members interjecting—

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