I rise to congratulate Toyota, the Brumby Labor government and the Rudd Labor
government and welcome the announcement by Toyota that the company will produce
hybrid Camrys at the beginning of 2010. This is a great announcement. It is good
for the environment, it is good for the workforce, it is good for the future of
Toyota and it is good for the industry in general.
When I was speaking with the Vehicle Builders Union senior shop
steward, Charlie Mamara, this morning, he said, ‘It was a healthy shot in the
arm — a timely one for the car industry — and a real morale booster for
workers on the shop floor’.
This level of investment confidence needs to flow to other
manufacturers, so that facilities at Ford’s Geelong engine plant and Holden’s
Family II engine plant at Fishermans Bend can and will be used for
manufacturing. I call on the industry to work with this government to ensure
that we continue to make things in this state and grow jobs. Whilst the
opposition seemingly knows only one thing about the car industry — and that is
how one gets to an FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) dinner at the
Hyatt — it is this government and the Rudd government working together and
working and negotiating with the industry that will provide real manufacturing
and real job outcomes.