Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It has been building as a result of Australia's high dollar, high costs and low volumes. At a time like this, we need to be conscious of the limitations of government, as well as of the government's potential. The then government was unable to prevent the departure from Australia of Mitsubishi in 2008. The then government was unable to prevent the imminent closure of Ford, in 2016, when this matter came before it some time ago. The then government, in March last year, believed that it had secured the future of Holden for a decade. But, despite the investment by the then government, of an additional $275 million, the future of Holden was not secured.

Our job now is to build on our fundamental strengths. It is not to play politics, it is not to indulge in the blame game and it is not to peddle false hope. That is why, in coming days, the government will announce new measures that focus on the strengths of the regions most impacted by Holden's departure in 2017, because there are great strengths in these regions—strengths in export education, R&D and niche manufacturing. We will not let these people down. But our challenge is to get them from one job to another job and we will not fail.

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