Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Dean Mighell have lashed out at the local, state and federal governments, condemning free trade agreements as the fundamental cause for manufacturers being forced to cut jobs as sales plunge.

Mr Katter said that the Gillard Government is failing Australian manufacturers like Holden and that the industry is on the brink of total collapse when more could be done in Canberra to assist the businesses to survive.

“There is a continual collapse of manufacturing in Australia,” Mr Katter said.

“Clearly, the Government needs to enforce that all State Government vehicle purchases need to be made in Australia.

Former Electrical Trades Union Victorian secretary Dean Mighell argues that the Government’s policies will ensure the death of manufacturing.

“I worked with General Motors in the 1980s.

“The Government should do more to protect manufacturers and iconic brands like Holden from being destroyed.

“From where I am sitting, free trade agreements and government procurement is to blame for the declining industry.

“This is a local, state and federal responsibility. All governments should be investing in Australian jobs and investing in Australian cars.

“Instead, we’ve got bugger all left in manufacturing.”

Mr Katter, who has been a strong advocate for manufacturing, said that it was only a matter of time before the manufacturing industry ceases to exist in Australia altogether.

“The manufacturing industry is bleeding and the motor vehicle industry is haemorrhaging.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to work out it’s going to become a corpse,” Mr Katter said.