Holden snubs Canberra

[Innuendo]

I don't totally agree with that innuendo... It's up to the current gov to either fix or break problems when in power. Granted its more Detroit doing the axing. Same blame with labour and ford.

What happened to abbotts election promise of creating one million jobs? So far it's just been loss after loss.

I get the feeling your very anti Liberal government. I don't know about the promise of a million jobs. But if he did then it's of no surprise that's what politicians do! Whatever the case a business has to stand on it's own merits. The government doesn't support my business nor do I expect them to. GM is again making money worldwide and is back to being successful. Ford on the other hand is still faltering globally.

Electrolux in Orange, Simplot and Downer EDI in Bathurst are in the exact same boat. All have their hands out wanting the government to throw cash at them.
It's always with the threat of loss of jobs (and these are the ones I hear about I'm sure they're others all over the country).

I for one am happy the government is getting tough on the handing out of cash. The mess left by the Labor government has to be cleaned up and Australia needs to hurt a little before things can be put right. It's been a big cushy ride for a whole generation. Kids driving $50K+ cars and building brand new monster houses all filled up with new tech at 25 years and younger. Then whinging the 60K-80K a year they're on isn't anywhere near enough!

I do and will continue to enjoy my Holden's. Should Holden become a thing of the past that will only increase the desirability of what we all enjoy. Brands come and go, successful businesses get taken over by more successful businesses. Australia by distance and population is a pimple on an elephants arse. GM are making a business decision. I don't think the Australian government (us Australian's) should be bailing out or propping up unsuccessful or no longer viable business models just to save jobs. Just because you obtained a job/employment doesn't mean it's guaranteed for life. The workers have seen the writing on the wall for months or longer and they should have already starting making alternative arrangements for employment.

Yeah it's sad, but so are a lot of things.

[HK1837]

I essentially agree. Whilst it is sad to lose jobs it is unfortunately difficult to go back from here. Unfortunately without Holden the whole house of cards will come down and hence Toyota will be not far behind as they will not be enough to support the supply industry that feeds all the bits that make up a car that are still made here.
The thing that I am more worried about than the loss of jobs, is the loss of the Country's inherent "memory", or in other words the knowledge/skills ingrained in people that make up the population that work for a big manufacuring Industry. I've seen it in the Hunter area after the Newcastle Steelworks closed in 1999. Everybody moved on, but people in my game (Electrical, but it applies across the board) that were trained there have a very well rounded Electrical experience and knowledge base. We are all getting older, many now retired and even gone and the last people trained like us were in the mid 90's. Traineeships/Apprenticeships and work experiences like BHP provided are all but finished, and as a result I see more and more how difficult it is to find savvy electrical people that don't have a "blinkers" on knowledge base. It isn't their fault, but a consequence of the loss of a major manufacturing industry with a very broad training experience ranging from design through to tight tolerance/QA production. In my world, where else would I get experience in 1920's DC dynamic lowering crane hoists, mercury arc rectifiers yet get to install and commission modern AC motor drives, and have 100 very experienced people around me to ask if I don't know the answer?
The loss of Holden to South Australia and Victoria will probably have a similar effect on the people in that area in 20 years time.
Just think about this, if the USA had to for some reason launch one of the remaining Apollo rockets quickly for whatever reason, I bet the knowledge to do it isn't there anymore. In 1o years time the knowledge base to get an Iowa class battleship going again quickly will be all but gone. There will be books and manuals but understanding the technology will be gone. I'm afraid that is what is happening to us all here once we lose our manufacturing base. We are all becoming good at digging holes and moving what we did up, but all we can do otherwise is consume!

[wbute]

I agree HK. Our skills are getting narrower all the time. Even a basic skill like pulling up a windmill is lost today. Let almond technical skills like yours.
Mining does train apprentices so at least it provides some skills.
Sadly a whole generation has happily sent all our manufacturing jobs to China because profit lines look better. Greed has put us in this situation. Not far sighted decision making as was shown by previous generations.

[Alien DNA]

@innuendo....I'm actually anti gov in general. I don't take sides, I pretty much loathe them all.

Yeah the future isn't so bright. Sorry I don't sound too optimistic

[sjc315]

The loss of jobs and an icon disappearing is a tragedy, no doubt but we are a victim of our own success and an abundance of cheap crap flooding in from elsewhere. On the brighter side though as a consumer Ford is bringing the Mustang into Australia, who knows what GM might come in with. I wouldn't mind a new Camaro.

[HK1837]

Camaro is coming as a HSV afaik

[mauser]

http://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...-1226781980761

I think the brand should truly die if that is what happens... rebadging the cars trying to tap into long lost sentiment is futile. No body is going to be fooled into believing its a Holden.

Mauser

[Dago]

I don't believe it's a Holden if it's built after 1984.

[HK1837]

In a way you are right, as technically WB was the last Holden (ie W sized) vehicle.

[Valencia]

I don't believe it's a Holden if it's built after 1984.

How do you come up with that theory