On Wednesday, Mr Hockey endorsed a newspaper article that said Mr Yasuda had claimed generous workplace conditions were the main impediment to Toyota staying in Australia.
The report in the Financial Review said that Mr Yasuda told the Treasurer he could convince Toyota's management in Tokyo to stay in Australia as long as the company could wind back its workplace benefits."It was a private conversation, but it's an accurate report," Mr Hockey told Fairfax Radio.
"I stood in Parliament and said it quite bluntly, that if the AMWU [Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union] continued down this path it would be very hard for Toyota to stay in Australia, and time's proven it to be correct".
But Toyota's management has directly contradicted Mr Hockey's version of events, releasing a statement denying that it blamed the union for its decision to leave Australia.
"Toyota Australia has never blamed the union for its decision to close its manufacturing operations by the end of 2017, neither publicly or in private discussions with any stakeholders," the company said in a statement.
"As stated at the time of the announcement, there is no single reason that led to this decision.
"The market and economic factors contributing to the decision include the unfavourable Australian dollar ... and low economies of scale for our vehicle production and local supplier base.
"Together with one of the most open and fragmented automotive markets in the world and increased competitiveness due to current and future Free Trade Agreements, it is not viable to continue building cars in Australia."
The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union issued statement welcoming Toyota's denial that workers conditions led the company to end manufacturing in Australia.
"It's another blow to the government's credibility – after GM Holden and SPC Ardmona both refuted the government’s claim that workers’ pay and conditions were to blame for industry troubles,’’ the statement said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said that it was a tough enough time for Toyota workers and their families, and described Mr Hockey’s comments on workers' conditions as "cruel and heartless".
"This is the most difficult time for these workers – they don’t need Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey kicking them in the guts while they’re down," he said.
"Aside from how heartless it is, it’s just wrong.
"I want Toyota workers to know that the death of the car industry is not their fault, it's Tony Abbott's."
Read more - Sydney Morning Herald
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