Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Cash. This morning, Minister Cash shared 'the good news about the impending closure of Holden', which has seen thousands of workers forced to find new jobs or retire. Isn't it clear that nothing has changed since former Treasurer Hockey goaded Holden to leave Australia? Why is the Liberal government celebrating the demise of automotive manufacturing in Australia?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was another one of her great interviews.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left. Senator Cameron.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. I disagree with you. We are certainly not celebrating the demise of the car manufacturing industry in Australia. What we are acknowledging though is that successive governments have provided billions upon billions of dollars to the car industry and, as Senator Carr himself acknowledged when he was the relevant minister, it wasn't the result of any particular government, it was unfortunately—

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

Yes it was. It was your government. You made a deliberate decision.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

a fact of the economic conditions at the time. This is a government that has worked very, very carefully with all of the car manufacturers in Australia.

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Minister. Senator Carr, I can't hear the minister. Senator Hinch on a point of order.

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, at the back of the chamber it is very hard to hear.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hinch, my sentiment exactly. Please, a bit more order so I can hear the minister respond to the questions when asked.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I stated, the government has for a number of years now been ensuring that we put in place programs to assist those workers working with the relevant states and with the relevant employers to ensure that workers are able to transition into new jobs or new industries. In fact, assistance since 2013 to help businesses transition into new industries is $255 million. Total assistance to assist those workers who have been affected since 2013 is $45 million. The number of workers that have been assisted to date is over 6,000. These workers have been provided with career training, advice and support. In addition to that, Holden advises that 75 per cent of Holden workers have found new jobs or retired. A further 10 per cent of those workers have put their hands up and they have actually said, 'I would like to look at something new,' and they are taking on new study.

In terms of manufacturing itself, over 2,000 engineers, designers and technicians have been retained— (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, a supplementary question.

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister said she was 'just so excited that 20 companies in South Australia and Victoria would receive $30 million in grants'. Given that in South Australia alone more than 700 companies in the automotive supply chain will be impacted by Holden's closure, why is the minister so excited?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is because we are looking to the future. We are looking to ensure that advanced manufacturing in Australia does have a future. All those opposite have done is talk down manufacturing in Australia. What the Turnbull government has done, though, is put in place the policies to help workers transition and to assist our manufacturers to seek lucrative markets both here and overseas. For example, I was very pleased to announce today that companies in both Victoria and South Australia will be the beneficiaries of nearly $30 million in grants to 20 businesses.

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Senator Carr, some are in your home state of Victoria. Others are in South Australia. These grants will leverage an additional $89 million from successful applicants. That is a total investment of $119 million— (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A final supplementary question, Senator Gallacher?

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning the minister claimed: 'The government stands with you.' When will the minister live up to her words and apologise on behalf of her government for goading Holden to leave and forcing the closure of the Australian automotive manufacturing industry?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, you, Senator Carr and others on your side like to blame the coalition government for the closure of auto manufacturers in Australia, but the fact is the fate of Australian auto production was already sealed when Senator Carr himself—he doesn't like to hear this and he doesn't like to take responsibility. Senator Carr, these are the facts. In 2013, when Senator Carr was Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, automotive employment was down one-third from when Labor came into government in 2007. That happens to be a fact, Senator Carr. Motor vehicle production in 2013, when Senator Carr was the relevant minister, was down nearly 40 per cent. In fact, as Senator Carr himself said back in 2012:

It's not the Government's job to tell them how to manage the plant. Governments do not run the car companies.