Media Release

AUSTRALIAN manufacturing has suffered another tragic blow today with talks the iconic Holden motor car may cease being made in Australia by 2014.

Australian Party Leader Bob Katter said one of the most exciting stories in his soon-to-be published History of Australia is the story of Lawrence Harnett and Ben Chifley’s creation of Holden – "Australia’s own motor car".

"But since Paul Keating’s removal of tariffs protecting the Australian motor vehicle industry, successive governments and their free trade masters have championed this cause. And now we see the results. We now live in a country without any manufacturing base whatsoever," said the Federal Member for Kennedy.

"In 1984, before this free trade rubbish began, 80 per cent of cars driven on Australian roads were built in Australian factories, by Australian workers. By 2009, this figure had fallen to 21 per cent. This year, it looks like being 14 per cent.

"Is there a single person left who believes we'll have a car industry in 20 years in Australia?"

Holden, once synonymous with Australian industry, is yet another in a long line of industries in the past two months to face being shipped overseas, in part or in whole.

Qantas, Walkabout, CMG Electric Motors, Bluescope Steel and Rio Tinto in aluminium have all made announcements that effectively mean they will be leaving Australia.

"Government policy has ensured this, and as Australians, we should hold them accountable," said Mr Katter.

"It’s pretty simple: Australian Government dollars should be spent on Australian products. It is the party’s policy that all motor vehicles purchased under government contracts, maybe 20 per cent of Australia’s car market, will be Australian-made.

"We need to put an end to this wholesale destruction of Australian manufacturing. With the Australian Party, this will happen."