Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Justice, Senator Brandis. I refer to the statement by the Minister for Industry on 11 December 2013 in relation to the $6.2 million open tender for armoured cars that 'Holden didn't bid for the armoured car program.' Given that officials confirmed in estimates on 20 November that a joint Holden-BAE bid was in fact received, why did the minister fail to correct the record and allow the Australian people to be misled?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not have a brief on that matter so I will take the question on notice.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that Holden was selected as the preferred tenderer and that the government instead awarded the $6.2 million contract to BMW, which did not even submit a bid?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take that on notice as well because, as a said, I do not have a brief on it.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Wasn't the Abbott government's decision to abandon negotiations with Holden and BAE simply part of its campaign to force the closure of automotive manufacturing in Australia?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Although that is a little remote from my portfolio, the suggestion Senator Carr makes is utterly preposterous. Let us not forget who was the Minister for Manufacturing on whose watch the Australian automobile industry became uncompetitive and shed tens of thousands of jobs—it was you, Senator Carr. On your watch there was more job shedding in the Australian automotive industry than under any other the minister. When the Abbott government was elected, we found an industry on its knees as a result of your administration of the portfolio over six years. Senator Carr, you do have a hide, sitting beside your friend Senator Stephen Conroy and criticising tender processes. I remind you of the infamous Australia Network tender which was awarded twice to Sky but was given to the ABC by Senator Stephen Conroy— (Time expired)