Advertisement

‘Angry’: PM slams General Motors over Holden closure

The closure of Holden operations shocked the nation.

The closure of Holden operations shocked the nation. Photo: Getty

Scott Morrison has accused General Motors of allowing the iconic Holden brand to “wither and die” after demanding billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to remain in Australia.

US-based GM announced on Monday it was retiring the Holden brand from sales in Australia and New Zealand.

The announcement came just six years after former treasurer Joe Hockey was accused of chasing the manufacturer out of the country after he urged the company to “put up or pack up” in December 2013 and “come clean” about whether it planned to shut down local operations.

The company had already ceased local manufacturing in 2017, but the decision will still affect 800 employees in Australia and New Zealand.

The Prime Minister said he was “angry” about the decision and said many Australians shared his view.

“Australian taxpayers put millions into this multinational company,” Mr Morrison said.

“They let the brand just wither away on their watch.

“Now they are leaving it behind.

“I think that’s very disappointing, that, over many years, more than $2 billion was directly provided to General Motors for the Holden operations.

Read: The slow, painful death of Australia’s most iconic car brand

“I think the fact they took money from Australian taxpayers for all those years just to let the Holden brand wither on their watch, I think is disappointing.

“I think at the end of the day it shows throwing all that taxpayer money at them … they were never going to respect that.”

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese blamed Holden’s axing on the Abbott government “goading” the manufacturer to leave.

“This is about more than just a car. For many Australians, Holden is part of their family story,” Mr Albanese tweeted.

But Holden interim chairman and managing director, Kristian Aquilina said the brand was simply no longer viable.

“We have had multiple rounds of discussions and tried to find a way to defy gravity,” Mr Aquilina said.

Industry Minister Karen Andrews criticised General Motors and Holden for giving the PM’s office just 15 minutes notice of the announcement.

“This is a very disappointing outcome,” Ms Andrews said.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable for Holden to have made this decision without any consultation with the government and without significant advice of that decision.

“Now I understand they need to communicate and consult with their workers, but quite frankly, this is an unacceptable process that Holden has undertaken.

“I will be speaking to the board and I will be asking what their plans are.

“Of course it will be up to them how much information they choose to divulge.

“They’ve made it very clear that their decision has nothing to do with government policy.

“It was a result of a business case that they had developed here in Australia that they believed was no longer sustainable.”

GM said the company will honour all warranties and provide spare parts for all Holden vehicles for at least 10 years.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said the Coalition government could not walk away from its role during in Holden’s demise.

“The Abbott government was the beginning of the end for the Australian car industry. Now the Morrison government is finishing the job,” Ms McManus said.

“The announcement marks a sad day for many Australians who took pride in the Holden brand as an icon of Australian ingenuity, something the Morrison government has never understood or valued.”

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.