House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-30 Daily Xml

Contents

HOLDEN COINVESTMENT

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:58): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Given the urgency of the negotiation with Holden, has the government offered to increase its $50 million coinvestment to Holden to secure the two new models through to 2022?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:59): Well, we have not been asked to. All I am asking for the federal government to do is to respond to Holden's offer—to respond to the offer that the previous federal government managed to find itself in a position to say yes to.

We would have had the future of Holden secured, and thousands and thousands of workers here in this state, in Victoria and in New South Wales would know that they have a secure future for themselves and their families. That is the proposition that's on the table at the moment and that is the proposition that we are calling on the federal government to respond to as a matter of urgency. Each day that we delay is a day closer to increasing the risk of the closure of Holden's.

I must say, if the Leader of the Opposition wanted to make a positive contribution, he could raise his voice here today in this parliament. I'll be happy to send a copy of the Hansard through to the federal minister. I'm sure the ladies and gentlemen of the media would be more than happy to carry this. If he could just raise his voice—an audible sound—in support of Holden's proposition—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Is the point of order that the Premier is debating the question?

Mrs REDMOND: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. Is this a supplementary from the leader?