Question Time

HOLDEN COINVESTMENT

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): My question is to the Premier: could the current funding issues with Holden have been averted if the state Labor government had moved sooner and more assertively to sign up the $275 million coinvestment package the government said it had secured over 18 months ago?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before the Premier answers, I call to order the ministers for education and transport, who audibly interjected. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:10): The transparent nonsense implicit in this question is obvious when one considers the nature of the agreement that was reached with Holden—the nature of the agreement that we are seeking to reach with them in relation to the coinvestment package.

An honourable member: I don't think it's us they're worried about.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right. Of course, what you get in return for these agreements is a commitment to build cars in return for money. If they don't build the cars, they don't get the money. You can't take this to a court and actually make them build cars. Anybody that thinks otherwise—it is just such transparent nonsense to actually come in here and suggest that you could specifically perform a funding agreement of this nature and somehow call that a binding obligation on the company to build cars.

The company decided, because of the change in international financial conditions, to re-approach the federal government. What that meant is that both parties would keep their money in their pocket, as, of course, we did. That's the simple proposition, and they reached agreement with the previous federal government, and us, on the terms of their coinvestment package. It's just that they had to await the result of the federal election.

Of course, they knew that one of the parties to the federal election was promising to pull out $500 million of funding to automotive car assistance. That's why they waited, and then they gave the opportunity for that party now in government—the Coalition government—to consider the time necessary to get themselves organised to change their position so that they could have the coinvestment package.

They were presented with all of that detail recently. We now know from Mr Macfarlane today that Holden has made it clear that their timeline was December. We now know this week that the federal government has decided to push this out into the middle of the year, and that is why we have commenced today this campaign—More Than Cars—to put pressure on the federal government to change its position, because this is such a vital issue for the future of our state.

This is what is at stake, not the conduct of the South Australian government, which has at all times done everything consistent with ensuring the future of Holden in South Australia, but the conduct of the federal Coalition. If they could use their voices, if they could produce their voices in support of us and our policy position, it would strengthen this campaign.

We now know that across the nation more and more people are becoming aware that the automotive sector is about more than just a Holden's plant in Elizabeth. It's not only about the northern suburbs and the knock-on effects throughout the northern suburbs; it is not only about the whole of the South Australian community: it is about the Victorian component sector, the Victorian manufacturing sector and, indeed, the national manufacturing sector. That's what is at stake. If there are a few hurt feelings around today because we have raised this issue publicly, then good. I am glad they are awake and paying attention, because that's what you do when you stand up and fight for your state.

Mr Marshall: A supplementary question.

The SPEAKER: Before the Leader asks a supplementary, I call to order the members for Chaffey, Heysen, Morialta and Morphett, and the leader. The leader.