Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to firstly pay tribute to Ford workers and suppliers and their families who have contributed so much to the Geelong community. After manufacturing almost half a million vehicles over 91 years in Geelong, last Friday marked the end of Ford manufacturing cars in Australia—a very emotional day in our community. Locally Ford will continue to have a bright future at its North Geelong Research and Development Centre and at the Lara proving ground, designing and testing cars for Ford's global markets.

At a time when every single job matters in Geelong, Viva Energy, which produces 50 per cent of Victoria's fuel, has effectively been shut down by an illegal blockade by the AWU and the AMWU. These unions are defying an order of the Victorian Supreme Court by continuing their illegal picket line—an action which has nothing to do with safety but everything to do with stopping non-union contract labour. This is absolutely outrageous, bullying, unlawful conduct. In the middle of a $100 million turnaround maintenance program, it is costing Viva $3 million a day, $20 million in total, and threatening jobs. What have we heard from the member for Corio and the Leader of the Opposition? Absolutely nothing. I condemn this behaviour. The Leader of the Opposition must speak out against this disgraceful behaviour. To the unions I say, 'Do not hurt our economy and threaten these jobs.'