Media Release

MEMBERS of the federal Liberal National Party Government have voted against restarting Australia’s car manufacturing industry, and shutdown debate on the motion which was moved by Kennedy MP, Bob Katter.

Mr Katter said the end of the Holden brand was a national shame and a dark day for the country.

“The Government’s Free Trade agreements have destroyed our manufacturing industry,” he said.

“I called on the Government to re-establish an Australian car manufacturing industry with a majority Australian shareholding; and put relevant policies in place to ensure that all cars purchased under federal government contracts are made in Australia.

“When my father bought his first Holden he was so excited and he ran around exclaiming we Australians built this car! Now, we make nothing.”

Mr Katter said he was surprised but not shocked that the Government had not learnt any lessons about the need for self-sufficiency from the Coronavirus pandemic. 

“I think the Government MPs are getting increasingly more sensitive about the industries that they have shut down in this country,” he said.\

“They have deregulated and destroyed the dairy, beef, eggs, maize, peanuts, fishing and tobacco industries.

“And their free-market policies have destroyed our manufacturing industries including white goods, TVs, cars, textiles, furniture, housing materials and petrol.

“The most recent example of their ideological stupidity was during this pandemic, when instead of buying antiseptic and sanitiser from Australian producers like United Petroleum and Manildra, the Government Health Departments and private sector imported it from China.”

Mr Katter’s motion followed a demonstration at the front of Parliament House this morning where a dozen classic Holden owners drove around in a precession, and spoke to the national media about their deep sadness over the Government’s ongoing policy to close manufacturing in Australia.

Mr Katter’s motion was defeated by the Government and he was gagged from speaking on it.
-ENDS-

Mr Katter’s motion:
“That the House:
1) Notes that:
a) on the 17th February 2020, General Motors announced the retirement of the Holden Brand in Australia
b) the government’s Free Trade agreements have destroyed our Australian manufacturing industry

2) Acknowledges that the government must build our way out of a
COVID-19 economic depression with ‘make money’ projects

3) Calls on the Government to:
a) support the reestablishment of an Australian car manufacturing industry with a majority Australian shareholding; and
b) put relevant policies in place to ensure that all cars purchased under federal government contracts are made in Australia.”