THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

 

SENATOR THE HON KIM CARR
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND INDUSTRY

SENATOR FOR VICTORIA

 

TIM WATTS MP

MEMBER FOR GELLIBRAND

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

TOYOTA WORKERS STILL WAITING FOR SUPPORT

 

More than a week since Toyota announced it was closing its Australian manufacturing operations, workers are still waiting to hear from the Abbott Government about any support.

 

More than 2,500 Toyota workers were told last Monday they would lose their job.  Some component manufacturers in the supply chain have already started laying off workers.

 

Despite the promise of a transitional package from the Government, nothing has been forthcoming.  In fact, all we’ve seen from the Government has been Ministers determined to blame Toyota workers for losing their jobs, forcing Toyota to issue a statement correcting the lies.

 

Tony Abbott hasn’t skipped a beat in moving on from this devastating news, just like he did when Holden announced it was sending its jobs overseas.

 

These workers and their families are in limbo – they need certainty and they’re not getting it from this government.

 

Tony Abbott must visit Toyota workers and tell them why their jobs weren’t worth fighting for; and what he’s going to do now they are losing their jobs.

 

The fact that Australians haven’t heard about any support shows how disdainfully the Abbott Government regards these workers.

 

By forcing Holden overseas, Mr Abbott has forced Toyota’s hand and threatens 50,000 direct Australian jobs in the automotive industry, as well as 200,000 jobs which rely indirectly on the automotive industry.

 

This is an economic catastrophe with a terrible human cost – one that the Abbott Government clearly does not understand.

 

It is now the Government’s obligation to do the right thing by the people it has betrayed.

 

We must see a structural adjustment package for the regions affected. We must see a transition plan for the component makers.

 

We must see it now.

 

 

TUESDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2014

 

MEDIA CONTACT: LEADER’S OFFICE MEDIA UNIT 02 6277 4053