Senator Doug Cameron, while slamming Ford for being ''absolutely delinquent'' in failing to pursue export markets over more than a decade, called on Labor's leadership to convene a crisis summit to rescue Australian manufacturing.
''I think this could have national implications because of the downstream work that takes place in the industry,'' he said.
Senator Cameron, the former national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, rounded on the big mining companies for helping to create the ''Dutch disease'', where the exploitation of natural resources pushes up the currency, increases the competition for labour and crowds out manufacturing.
Senator Cameron, the former national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, rounded on the big mining companies for helping to create the ''Dutch disease'', where the exploitation of natural resources pushes up the currency, increases the competition for labour and crowds out manufacturing.
He praised previous government assistance for the car industry but said the high dollar had made the situation for Ford intolerable.
''I call on the Industry Minister and the Prime Minister to convene a meeting between the industry, the suppliers, the unions and the industry peak organisations like the Ai Group, and some of the issues to be discussed is how do we get lower interest rates and a lower dollar, and should we be providing some tax incentives to companies who are prepared to continue to manufacture in Australia,'' he said.
''I think the miners have got a massive responsibility to ensure that more local equipment is sourced within Australia. They could assist by establishing an engineering and fabrication hub in Geelong for the manufacture, maintenance and repair of mining infrastructure.''
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