Kim Carr says state governments should buy Australian cars

[vztrt]

Buy Aussie, minister tells states

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25779A001D43A3

State governments hurting local motor industry by switching to imports, Carr says

10 September 2010

By IAN PORTER

STATE governments should buy Australian-made cars for the good of the economy, federal innovation, industry, science and research minister Senator Kim Carr said today.

Speaking at the announcement of Toyota’s new $300 million engine plant at Altona, Senator Carr said state governments had bought about 70,000 fewer Australian-built vehicles in recent years.

Responding to a journalist's suggestion that Toyota Hybrid Camry sales had benefited disproportionately from federal and state governments fleet purchases, Senator Carr said: “You’d expect us to buy imported vehicles, would you?

“Well, I don’t agree with you. I think Australian governments should be buying Australian-made vehicles.

“My concern is that state governments around Australia have been buying 70,000 less Australian made vehicles in recent years.

“The total number of vehicle sales to state governments has declined.”

Senator Carr said that fleet sales, to both public and private buyers, were the sales that underpinned the health of the local car industry.

“I would rather people buy Australian made cars, whether they are bought by a big company or a family.”

Last year, VFACTS attributed 60,096 vehicle sales to governments across Australia, a decline of 12.8 per cent in a market down 7.4 per cent. Although no public breakdown of imports versus locally made vehicles is made, only about 21,000 or a little more than one third of those are thought to be local.

Senator Carr dismissed a suggestion that the Hybrid Camry had missed its sales targets since it was released in February.

“In five months, they have sold 4000, contrary to claims on a certain media outlet,” he said.

Deliveries in the last three months totalled 2000 and orders for 2500 were received, he said.

“This is a new technology. You have got to expect it to take time.

But it is absolutely on target to meet the company’s intention to sell 10,000.”

Senator Carr also defended projects backed by the $900 million Green Car Innovation Fund, which have supported new internal combustion engines and a petrol-powered small car to be built by Holden.

The projects offer only incremental advances on existing engines and vehicles.

“We have to be realistic about what can be achieved in a market economy. We are not in the business of directing the companies to produce certain products.

“This is a co-investment program. There has got to be proper attention paid to what is commercially viable.

“I believe there is enormous opportunity to enhance our environmental performance through the ICE (internal combustion engine). That us where the biggest gains are going to come.

“We are in the process of significantly improving our fuel economy and tailpipe (emissions) as a result of adaption of existing technologies.

“The Hybrid Camry is an existing technology. But it works. We didn’t have it here. The company was making these cars in Thailand.

“We have brought the production to Oz and brought with it all the skills and the capabilities hat you need to sustain production in Australia.”

Asked if he wanted to continue as minister in the newly formed Gillard government, Senator Carr declared that working in his current portfolio was “a labour of love”.

Senator Carr said he had been delighted with the work of the Innovation Department during his time as minister.

“I find it a great pleasure and it’s a labour of love for me,” he said.

“I have to wait upon the decisions of the PM (Prime Minister) as to the portfolio allocations she makes.”

[g220ba]

Australians should support Australian jobs.

[InfernoSR]

its more the job than the brand that should be supported...

[blownvn]

If the locally made vehicles meets the demands of the government user, then I agree that all levels of government should be buying Australian made first.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Buy Aussie, minister tells states

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25779A001D43A3

This is exactly right. 85% of the cars now sold in this country are imported.

[mik]

indeed Phillyc, and its a disgrace imo, saving a couple of buks by buying o`seas products, or out sourceing if you like might be cheaper, it does`nt always work out better though in the long run , the same goes for services.

[Walt Kowalski]

He has just kissed goodbye to his job

Our red headed communistic leader will not want a Minister who wants to support Australian Industry.

But refreshing to hear a politician like that.

Eh!

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by Walt Kowalski

He has just kissed goodbye to his job

Our red headed communistic leader will not want a Minister who wants to support Australian Industry.

But refreshing to hear a politician like that.

Eh!

God how i love comments like this....

Humour me and explain since the "communist" ideal is to own all industry and NOT import anything thereby meaning by definintion that a commie leader would 100% support Aussie industry...

[blownvn]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

God how i love comments like this....

Humour me and explain since the "communist" ideal is to own all industry and NOT import anything thereby meaning by definintion that a commie leader would 100% support Aussie industry...

Julia Gillard is a known socialist (aka: communist) stemming right back to her university days. The Greens, who labour have aligned themselves with, are even worse.

[whynot]

Well, part of the problem is that the various state Labour governments have introduced arbitrary greenhouse target. Then, they mandate that their own fleet must meet these targets. Oh, any by the way, it just about rules out everything except the Camry.

We even had one Minister of the Crown boast about how he had removed all six cylinder vehicles from the fleet. Go figure.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by whynot

Well, part of the problem is that the various state Labour governments have introduced arbitrary greenhouse target. Then, they mandate that their own fleet must meet these targets. Oh, any by the way, it just about rules out everything except the Camry.

We even had one Minister of the Crown boast about how he had removed all six cylinder vehicles from the fleet. Go figure.

Police cars are not part of the government fleet?

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by blownvn

Julia Gillard is a known socialist (aka: communist) stemming right back to her university days. The Greens, who labour have aligned themselves with, are even worse.

And you obviously missed my point... and didnt read the post i was referring too....

[DJR David]

My federal gov't vehicle is a korean import........

[au2000]

In Victoria, Gov policy is to mostly buy australian produced cars & only if necessary to buy other brands, that's why most red plated cars in vic are prius, camrys, falcons, commodores & territories...there is the occasional subaru, corolla etc but as a main australian made or based companies are the norm. They did recommend to buy less 6 cylinder models in some dept's ie falcons & commodores & to buy more 4 cylinder cars however they did say to purchase lpg versions of the 6's instead..

[XR Martin]

Apparently the DOD has been buying Great Walls.....

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Apparently the DOD has been buying Great Walls.....

The need vehicles to blow up?

[whynot]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

Police cars are not part of the government fleet?

Never did I suggest that the Minister was correct. The point I was trying to make is how "anti" six-cylinder certain Labour (the party of the workers) parliamentary members really are.

[dave289]

It should be mandatory government policy to only buy australian made, otherwise your only sticking the boot in to our already dying economy. great politics ,really great , and these are the tools that run the country.

[bobthebilda]

No one in their right mind would go and see a financial advisor who is bankrupt.
No one in their right mind would take instructions from an obese weight trainer.

And yet, we, and everyone else are lead to believe that it is in our best interest to listen to Kim Carr, a man who has daily contact with the leader of our health system, yet is unable to find some resemblance of balance between his own inputs and outputs.

Kim Carr has as much ability to determine the benefits of any government handouts to under performing businesses, as he does to his own dietary habits.

The economic neanderthal probably never comprehended that governments may have purchased 70,000 fewer australian made cars in recent years, because the money that may have gone to buying cars, has instead gone directly to the companies via way of government subsidies and handouts, in order to keep their inefficient practices going.

I think his brilliance can be summed in in his quote

“This is a new technology. You have got to expect it to take time", when talking about the camry hybrid.

Apparantly to our Minister for Innovation, Hybrids are a new yechnology, despite being manufactured for many years. And lets not highlight to cholestrerol clogged brain, that when time has elapsed after new technology has first been introduced, then it basically becomes old technology. Not often one hears a moron saying an oxymoron.

And yet, everyone go out and do as Kim Carr says.

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Apparently the DOD has been buying Great Walls.....

And who told you this?

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

The economic neanderthal probably never comprehended that governments may have purchased 70,000 fewer australian made cars in recent years, because the money that may have gone to buying cars, has instead gone directly to the companies via way of government subsidies and handouts, in order to keep their inefficient practices going.

Well… that I think is the dumbest think I've heard.. Just image if they bought Australian built cars to start with (they need cars anyway), then maybe those government subsidies would not have been needed & they could have spent that money on roads, public transport, hospital!! Instead they buy imports & send our money OS!!

But hey, you seem to think a person’s weight is a direct relation to the knowledge they have on this topic, so I'm a genius on this topic then!!

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Well… that I think is the dumbest think I've heard.. Just image if they bought Australian built cars to start with (they need cars anyway), then maybe those government subsidies would not have been needed & they could have spent that money on roads, public transport, hospital!! Instead they buy imports & send our money OS!!

But hey, you seem to think a person’s weight is a direct relation to the knowledge they have on this topic, so I'm a genius on this topic then!!

The possibilities are quite endless if governments were to buy more australian made cars. One would assume if they made more cars at the loss rate they have over the last few years, then we taxpayers would have to fork over more money to keep them viable. Far better to lose $3000 per car at 223,000 cars a year, than $3000 per car at 300,000 cars per year.

Australians were buying alot more australian made cars only a few years ago, and that didnt seem to help the viability or profitability of the car makers. They still begged for government handouts.

Put a public servant in a $15000 hyundai, and you send $11000 overseas. Put a public servant in a $35000 commodore with 30% local content, and you are sending alot more money overseas.

Its very fortunate for Kim Carr, that 14% of Australians do share his views, Its unfortunate ofr me that I am in the 86% minority.

[6t6m]

How long has it taken the Government to realise it should be supporting its own country.. this should have been said a long time ago.... I'm not hugely into politics because I dont know enough about it... But I think this is a very big step in the right direction... Well done

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

Put a public servant in a $15000 hyundai, and you send $11000 overseas. Put a public servant in a $35000 commodore with 30% local content, and you are sending alot more money overseas.

Commodore is closer to 73% local content (6 cylinder auto). On top of the local content there is the hundreds of millions of dollars in R&D in developing the commodore which is pumped back into the local economy. The automotive industry is the largest spender of R&D in this country. Full Stop. Hence why some of the most wealthiest countries on the planet continue to support to their local auto industries.

[GK]

Government departments should stop buying the Prius and such, and buy LPG Falcons and Commodores.

Yep I said it, even Commodores. It's good for the whole industry.

GK

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

God how i love comments like this....

Humour me and explain since the "communist" ideal is to own all industry and NOT import anything thereby meaning by definintion that a commie leader would 100% support Aussie industry...

Huh?

Who says a communist country would not want to import anything?

A left wing or socialist government will seek to re-distribute the wealth from the industry or business to the people, destroying tariffs might close Ford Australia but it will make a Holden Epica cheaper for Mrs Smith. Likewise unions will seek to re-distribute wealth from industry or business to the people, increasing wages may destroy Ford Australia but it will put more money into the pocket of Mrs Smith (classic case of biting the hand that feeds you).

Left wing or socialists will have the view 'whats in it for me?' this seems to dominate their thought patterns. Conservative or right-wings will have a patriotic or bigger-picture view of the world. The only people I know who staunchly buy Australian are Liberal voters, these middle-class, middle-income people may be called old fashioned or out-of-date, but these people do more for their country than any union TV ad could ever do. the few union members I know all drive brand new imported cars... all of them..

In Brisbane the Australian Manufacturers Union reps drive Japanese Priuses. the Communication Workers Union company cars are Japanese Suzuki Grand Vitaras. Under Labor state governments we have seen the decimation of governments buying Australian. The fact that Anna Bligh's offical car is a European built Chrysler says everything to me.


In contrast..... the right wing, capitalist seeking Chamber of Commerce drives.... Falcons G6s.


These are my views and observations, take them or leave them.

[Jim Goose]

These are my views and observations, take them or leave them.

\

Then you have no idea what a commie is.... as for the rest of your comments about what aright winger buys...where does one begin?... but then again why even bother.
I know already what your reply would be.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by dave289

It should be mandatory government policy to only buy australian made, otherwise your only sticking the boot in to our already dying economy. great politics ,really great , and these are the tools that run the country.

You (by you I mean the Australian public) voted for them.

[Falcon Coupe]

The usual suspects off on a tangent. Borderline political threads just don't stand a chance here.