The beloved car brand’s days are now numbered – but a politician’s furious 2013 threat might have ultimately sealed its fate.
But as the reasons behind the dramatic withdrawal are being analysed and dissected across the country, one six-word threat made seven years ago has come back to haunt car lovers – and the Government.following a frustrating back and forth over government subsidies to the carmaker.At the time, the local car-manufacturing sector was grappling with the high Aussie dollar and rising production costs when the Coalition government refused to boost its subsidy to the industry.
The Abbott government wanted to slash the subsidy by $1.63 billion to $1.02 billion, and Holden was playing coy about its commitment to Australia and Australian manufacturing. That’s when a clearly irritated Mr Hockey urged the company to “come clean” over rumoured plans to shut down in Australia and notoriously daring the auto giant to leave.“Because if I was running a business and I was committed to that business in Australia, I wouldn’t be saying that I haven’t made any decision about its future.
Of course, the company limped on until 2017 when it pulled out of Australian manufacturing before announcing late last year it would stop selling its most iconic car, the Commodore.Treasurer Joe Hockey and acting PM Warren Truss call on Holden to 'come clean' about whether the company will close in Australia.HOLDEN ‘CHASED OUT’
After Holden revealed it would end Aussie manufacturing and close its Adelaide plant in 2017, former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill placed the blame firmly on the Coalition’s shoulders, claiming it had “chased out” the brand., Mr Weatherill said he was present at a meeting where Holden made an offer to remain in the country that the Coalition “ignored”.Source:News Limited“There’s about 19 countries in the world that make cars. If you want a car industry, they are the rules of the game.
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