Grant Chapman (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like my colleague Senator Abetz, I take note of the answer given by Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, in relation to the government’s announcement of a $35 million photo opportunity—grant, should I say—to Toyota to build the hybrid Camry vehicle in Victoria.

We have just heard spin upon spin. Not only did we hear spin and no answers to questions during question time; we have now had that compounded by Senator O’Brien, who comes in here and makes up the story as he goes along. He is now suggesting that there were longstanding discussions between the government and Toyota on the production of this hybrid vehicle, when there is no evidence whatsoever to support that contention. If that were the case, why didn’t the government answer the question that was asked by my colleague Senator Bushby and reiterated by me in question time as to what date Toyota was advised of the $35 million grant? Because it was pulled out of the blue as a photo opportunity for the Prime Minister during his visit to Japan. Why couldn’t they answer what the $35 million would be used for? Because they do not know. It is quite clearly the case that there were no detailed discussions on this issue prior to the announcement.

We have heard nothing but spin. We have just heard it from Senator O’Brien. We heard it from Minister Evans in his answers during question time—spin and dissembling. Not only does he expect senators to swallow that but, more tragically, he expects the Australian public to swallow it. It is simply not good enough. Australian working families, which the Prime Minister promised to protect, are struggling under the pressure of increasing petrol prices, increasing interest rates, increasing grocery prices and, thanks to the most recent budget, increased taxes. What is the government’s response? To hand out $35 million of taxpayers’ hard-earned money for a project that was going to happen anyway and for technology that, by the time it is introduced, will be well behind the times. There is no better proof that this was nothing more than a $35 million photo opportunity for the Prime Minister when he was in Japan than the comments of the Toyota president himself when he said:

It was only recently that we heard about the amount so we are not sure how we would use it.

That was not all. Toyota confirmed it again the next day when its spokesman, Mike Breen, said:

It would have happened regardless and we wouldn’t bring it to market unless we’re going to make money.

In that context, Minister Evans’s response, the spin we have heard today, is absolutely offensive to Australian taxpayers. All of us know that this was nothing more than a stunt for the Prime Minister to try to appear to be doing something about petrol prices and to divert attention from that key issue in the Australia community. While the Toyota spokesmen, in every newspaper in the country, are confirming that this was nothing more than an overpriced photo stunt, Minister Evans comes to this place with the temerity to suggest otherwise.

We then have the issue of the actual vehicle and the actual technology. The fact is that the engine for this vehicle is entirely Japanese built. It will be simply shipped to Australia and dropped into an existing Camry body. So Toyota in Australia will not be producing a 21st-century vehicle. It will be a Fred Flintstone car, one without an engine, until its imported engine is dropped in. What is even worse is that it is replacing an engine currently made for the Camry in Australia. An engine that is made here, domestically, in Australia is going to be replaced by a fully imported engine. That would not be so bad if it were state-of-the-art technology, but Toyota has already announced that, in 2010, Japan, America and European countries will have access to second generation plug-in hybrids, which provide much improved performance. They have not only handed out $35 million for a project that was going ahead regardless but also handed out $35 million to ensure that Australia does not have access to the latest and most effective technology.

I am certainly not going to pat the minister or Senator Evans on the back for such a decision. It demonstrates the sheer hypocrisy of this government and its willingness to do anything to divert attention from its failure to deliver on its promises to the Australian community. That was highlighted still further by its failure to adhere even to its own statements and guidelines regarding the green car fund. (Time expired)