People are disappointed, but some think that it wasn't worth saving while others(like me) like to blame our governments(past) who created the conditions that resulted in Mitsubishi, Ford, Holden closing, as well as many many other manufacturing operations. You know we used to have a textiles industry in Australia employing thousands of people, even thousands employed right here in Adelaide. Do you think anything was done to offset those job losses? Nup, SFA.
Do you think it's ironic that GM now plans on producing more cars in South Korea, and exporting them to Australia? Or that performance models from GM's stable in America will exported to Australia and rebadged as Holdens in right hand drive?
What GM has done is announce it will close production here because it was aware we were negotiating(or have we signed it already?) a FTA with South Korea.
Why make cars here, when they can make them in another country with an FTA with Australia, where they are made cheaper too and then import them here, still at cheaper costs then it is to make them here?
Australia has been whored out to globalization. That's the bottom line.
They now want to increase the migrant intake to over 200,000 a year, because apparently there's a skills shortage and the mines need workers.
5-6% of working age Australian's are unemployed. I'm sure even 1% of unemployed would be more then enough to cover the mining multi-billionaires needs for workers. But of course, hiring Australian's means they have to comply with all work place laws and regulations doesn't it. Because most Australian's will stand up for them selves if they think they are getting screwed over. Whereas foreigners who barely speak the language wont give too much of a shit, and their work performance will reflect that.
I'm sure certain people will of course disagree and defend their blue collar mates. Because you know, Gina and the rest of the billionaire mining tycoons honestly have Australia/Australians best interests at heart. That's how they got super rich after all.
Manufacturing is a strategic asset for a country. We've now basically lost it. In another fifty years, if not sooner, we will have nothing built locally in this country. It will all be imported.
It's just like the NBN, we need the NBN in all it's glory that was being built under Labor, as much as we need a manufacturing industry. Both are strategically important and vital for the future.
The next thing to go will be ship building unless Abbott fast tracks some projects to keep the shipyards working. If he doesn't, we wont be building our next generation submarines here, we will be buying them from another country.
Now with Beer Garden for our smoking patrons.
