Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

The support of senators for auto manufacturing and car manufacturing on this side is of course well known. On the opposite side we have opposition senators who do not have a policy, so in responding to the senator's question it does not take me any time at all to reflect on alternative policies, because the opposition does not have any. Their auto industry policy is pretty simple: to cut $1.5 billion out of that industry, kill tens of thousands of jobs and lay waste to the future of a successful and ongoing manufacturing sector here in Australia. I do suggest that they have a chat with their counterparts down south and stand in shame at their lack of support for what is one of our job-generating industries with a strong future particularly with this new program that has been announced today to support the sector. They have an appalling record of supporting small business and car manufacturing in this country and they stand condemned for it.