Quite frankly, I got laid off from the mining industry this year, and they don't get propped up by the government to the tune of millions of dollars every year, nor any assistance outside of work to find a new job, why should any other industry be treated any differently? Many people in my industry are currently out of work, forget about the the BHP's and the Rio Tinto's, there is much more to the industry than two companies.
Manufacturing in Australia is headed for the wall, you only have to look at the US as a model for what lies ahead for us. Wages and salaries cannot increase every year without affecting the bottom line of many companies, you only have to look at how many iconic companies have closed up shop and headed overseas during the last few years (Mmmm, Minelab sending manufacturing to Malaysia vs Aussie jobs for example).
Don't blame the liberals, labor had its chance at doing something for the long term, but ultimately failed, but they also knew the writing was on the wall. Company after company shut up shop and moved their base abroad under the labor govt, they stood by and did absolutely nothing to entice them to stay in Oz. At least the currently govt recognised that Holden is simply unsustainable in the Australian and world market. ....and wasn't it labor that introduced policy regarding FBT on novated car leasing arrangements that nearly shutdown the industry overnight, am guessing a lot of their cars were also sourced from holden.
Lets face it, looking at the big picture, Holden isn't the first and won't be the last company walking out of Australia.
