South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says Holden will stop making cars in Australia from 2016 unless the Federal Government commits by Christmas to more taxpayer support.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he does not want the car industry living from hand-to-mouth on subsidies and the Coalition went into the election promising to cut $ 500 million of car industry assistance.
SA Premier Jay Weatherill is warning that unless the Federal Government commits to a funding boost by Christmas, Holden will announce it is closing down manufacturing in Australia.
“Directly it would mean that beyond 2016, like Ford, they would no longer be in Australia,” he said.
“That would clearly … have knock-on effects to Toyota.”
Mr Weatherill is warning it would see 16,000 jobs lost in South Australia alone, both directly and from components suppliers.
