Ford Australia
Geelong, Victoria
[check against delivery]
Last week the Prime Minister and I announced a $6.2 billion plan to make the Australian automotive industry more sustainable in every sense of the word – economically, environmentally and socially.
Today, we are seeing the first fruits of that plan – including 1,300 high-skill, high-wage jobs.
The Commonwealth’s car plan provides $3.4 billion for an Automotive Transformation Scheme that will drive investment in new capacity, new skills, and new R&D.
It provides $1.3 billion for the Green Car Innovation Fund.
It provides more than $150 million to strengthen the supply chain and increase the uptake of LPG vehicles.
There’s one more thing the plan provides, and you can’t put a dollar value on it.
That’s certainty.
In times of crisis, certainty is a rare thing.
It is priceless.
The Australian automotive industry now has a plan that sets out with absolute clarity where we are heading and how we mean to get there.
We’ve given people the long-term policy commitment they need to invest in the future.
I’m not just talking about companies investing money – although there will be no support unless they do.
I’m also talking about workers investing their lives in the industry.
I’m talking about researchers investing their time and energy in it.
Today’s announcement shows what you can achieve if you are prepared to nail your colours to the mast and say this industry has a future – this industry is worth fighting for.
Economists worry about whether GOVERNMENT policies and programs can really induce industry to do more than it would have done anyway.
Here is the proof they can.
Ford has changed its mind.
This plant was scheduled to close – now it is open again.
Earlier this year, Toyota changed its mind.
They were going to build the hybrid Camry in Thailand – now they’re building it in Australia.
Since day one I’ve said I’m determined to keep this industry in Australia.
Today Ford has shown it shares that determination.
This announcement is testament to the strength of the partnership we have built to take the automotive industry forward – a partnership between industry, government and unions.
There is no one more important to that partnership than Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
His support for Australian manufacturing is legendary, and without that support we probably wouldn’t be making this announcement today.
Like me, like Ford and like the workers of Geelong, he wants Australia to remain a great manufacturing nation.
Together, we can make it happen.