GM HOLDEN

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:54): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on support or otherwise for Holden remaining open in South Australia, and what is his response for the people in my electorate?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for her question, and note her keen interest in the future of Holden's. Of course, many of the workers also live in her electorate of Taylor. It has been a confusing picture about support or otherwise for it; we have lots of different positions within the Liberal Party on this. We have Mr Birmingham saying, 'Of course, it happens in a range of places [that is, the funding] in a range of ways but, globally, there's got to be a question here that governments can't afford to keep undertaking these activities.' That was Simon Birmingham, 'can't afford it'. Mr Abetz said, 'Australia is in a special situation. It is one of 13 countries in the world that has the capacity to make motor vehicles. Now it's a pretty special capacity and I think it's within the national interest to have that sort of wherewithal.' So he is on the team.

Then we have Mr Macfarlane. He looks like he is supportive, and he wanted to make that communicated quickly. Then we have Mr Abetz again (so he has got confused), who said, 'We are committed to reducing government expenditure. In that context we have indicated we have reduced by $500 million part of the government support.' That is to the car industry. Mr Billson looks like he is in favour. Barnaby is reliable: 'If we want to be a country that means something we've got to be a country that makes something.' A great line. Then of course there is Joe Hockey. Joe has let the team down, 'Well, that's a very good question Mel of course. We all welcome further investment in General Motors of a billion dollars, but I have deep deep reservations about handing to one company nearly a quarter of a billion dollars of taxpayers' money.'

Then, of course, who could forget the Leader of the Opposition—where is it? It's an important quote here. After questioning why I was in Detroit in the first place, she then goes on to say, 'I think for us to have a future in this country generally in cars when you look at the map of the world, if you wanted to produce something very heavy and transport it around the world this would probably not be the place you would choose.'

I think it is high time for those opposite to clarify it, to come clean, and instead of nosing around this issue and pretending that they are somehow generally in support, make it clear whether they are behind the government in investing in Holden's, securing a future for Holden's in this state, a future for the constituents of the member for Taylor.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Trade, order!