Ford Closing.

[HK1837]

I'd happily support them if they'd build what I want, but they don't! The last cars GMH or Holden built that I actually really wanted to buy were a WB 1-tonner and V2-V2III CV8. Every other time they missed the mark. They almost got there with the AWD VY and VZ 1-tonner buy stuffed it up by only putting a V6 in it.

[Innuendo]

It's up to the government. Our fruit, food, car and just about all industry is dying.
We import too much "rubbish" and we don't need too. It's like importing eggs to a chicken farm.

You don't have to subsidise something to compete "if" you tax the arse off unnecessary imports. Note: I said "unnecessary". We don't need 22 different eco small cars. Nobody needs that much choice!

As I see it the priorities are all wrong and it's the government that is mainly to blame allowing these cheap nasty imports on to our shore.
It all comes down to governments wanting to play on the world stage.

[Paddy_77HZ_Ute]

Local, state and federal governments, and all organisations funded by them should have to purchase Australian made vehicles. Heaps of sales, heaps of jobs, no more handouts. Unless I'm missing something it doesn't have to difficult.

[jennie285]

Local, state and federal governments, and all organisations funded by them should have to purchase Australian made vehicles. Heaps of sales, heaps of jobs, no more handouts. Unless I'm missing something it doesn't have to difficult.

The reason they axed phase 4 gtho was because the government told ford and Holden in the 70's they would cancel their contracts for cars If they kept building muscle cars. So what happened to that deal I wonder?

[Vombil]

in this scenario the consumer is the murderer and will carry on without penalty.

We have demanded more and more out of new vehicles and want to pay less for them.

The govt threw money at Ford and Holden but in reality the govt has probably made it all back on taxes from the vehicles that are being imported which in turn undercut local sales!

Holden has read the play better than Ford but I'd imagine they too will be a gonner within the next 10 years or so

[Robbo]

It all started in the 80's, I think it was the 80's, when the first hyundai hit the market. Cheap korean crap, but they sold. Consecutive government's just kept on encouraging this. Looking after all the asian worker's at the expense of our own. People will buy these cheap crappy vehicles, for half the price of something tried and proven, loaded to the hilt with extra's, with enormous warranties thrown in as sweetener's. Yet in a few year's when they come to sell them, they realise they are worth absolutely nothing.

[wbute]

Probably just another example of financial management being put before social obligations by all governments. There are other issues that are just as bad as a car manufacturers pulling the pin happening in Australia that get no air time at all. Not sure if people have any interest in agriculture in Australia or just what they are handed to them at the supermarket these days. We no longer own or control our wheat export ports since Graincorp has been purchased by the overseas interests. I think we are going to end up completely over the barrel. All the forward planning done in the 1900's has been sold out to our competitors.

[playwme]

Bit rich to blame the government. The people want cheap cars, but they also want high wages. That combination doesn't work for local industry. Sure, trade deals get brokered but in the end it's the consumer that dictates whether or not a foreign manufacturer will do well.

[83 WB_Ute]

Bit rich to blame the government. The people want cheap cars, but they also want high wages. That combination doesn't work for local industry. Sure, trade deals get brokered but in the end it's the consumer that dictates whether or not a foreign manufacturer will do well.

Spot on!!! However the government does play a part in it, its a minute part though.
Its a viscious circle, like you said, the consumer wants cheap stuff but they also want high wages... Usually you'll find the first to complain about a manufacturer going overeas are the ones who won't buy the Australian made products cause of the price....

[wbute]

Not entirely. Government plays a huge part in how a manufacturer performs through tax incentives and investing in infrastructure to benefit producers.