My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Regional and Rural Development,
Jacinta Allan. Last Monday saw the announcement of a historic new car plan from
the Rudd government which will provide $6.2 billion to the industry. This
funding will provide a serious future for the industry. Leaving that
announcement to one side, there has been a number of job losses in the industry.
As recently as late this afternoon it was confirmed that at the end of this week
220 hourly employees will depart from Ford Geelong. It was this government that
had the foresight to set up the Geelong Investment and Innovation Fund. I now
ask the minister to bring forward a speedy conclusion to the second round of
GIIF funding to ensure that workers such as those who are leaving Ford this
Friday will be trained and managed as soon as possible into new jobs created by
projects funded through the GIIF.