2016-2017

[AirStrike]

It's all over the ABC, if it's true do we get the $275m back they took to not close up?

 

[Skydrol]

called Genesis R-Spec sedan over there, is stepping up regularly to be righteously killed by G8s on the streets, I hear.

I saw one this morning in my way to work.
Tried to see if the driver want it to play, refused the offer.

 

[PIR4TE]

What a crappy article!! No investigation, collaboration only heresay and conjecture.
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/natio...plant-coalition/story-fn59niix-1226776531513#
Sure it makes sense that Holden doesn't want to be saved, as we alluded with their harakiri advertising budget and ridiculous PR, but reporting a+d+e=b from an opposition politician to create a scandalous headline is just gross.
Where's the beef? Are there any credible quotes from Holden or is this more bullshit?

 

[AirStrike]

Holden are saying nothing, which isn't confidence inspiring.

 

[SavVYute]

Industry minister dismisses ABC report. Not true?

General Motors to close Holden by 2016, report says - Federal Government denies the claims

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226776502766

THE Federal Government says a report that General Motors in the US has already decided to close its Holden car manufacturing operations in Australia is untrue.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane last night that dismissed the ABC report that Holden would go by 2016.

The report said its sources were other senior Coalition ministers.

"Consultations are continuing in good faith with Australian carmakers, the components industry and workers," a spokeswoman for the minister said.

"The Productivity Commission is continuing its work assessing the Australian automotive industry and will report to the Government. That process is unchanged and will continue."

The ABC report, attributed to senior ministers, last night said the American carmaker had decided to pull out of struggling operations in Australia and had planned to make the announcement this week.

"The ABC understands that Holden has made the decision to cease its Australian productions regardless of an assistance package," the report said.

It saids the announcement was scheduled for this week, but had been put off until early next year.

Holden workers take a summer break over the Christmas period.

Holden refused to comment on the speculation.

However, News Corp Australia is aware that Holden has been debating whether, once a decision was made, to announce the shutdown to workers before or after Christmas.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill last night rang Mr Macfarlane and said he had been told Holden had denied the reports.

Mr Weatherill said Coalition ministers were "briefing against their own colleagues, exposing the deep divisions in the Liberal Party over the auto industry's future".

"It is now time for the Prime Minister to intervene because this cannot be allowed to continue. This ongoing speculation is incredibly damaging to Holden and to the workers," he said.

South Australian senator Nick Xenophon asked how much more we would pay in Centrelink payments than we are paying in industry assistance if Holden closes.

"What the hell is going on? We need to know," he said.

"I believe Ian Macfarlane, I'm not sure I believe other ministers in Cabinet.

"The PM needs to back Ian Macfarlane as a master of urgency.

"This is not just about SA. This is about 50,000 jobs being lost."

News Corp Australia has been told there were rumours on the factory floor this week that Holden was going to announce the shutdown on December 20, the last day of work before the summer break and the same day the preliminary Productivity Commission report on the industry was due to be published.

It is understood there was concern about announcing the shutdown before the summer break because of the personal effect it could have on the workers and their families.

However, historically, car companies have tended to share the grim news with employees soon after a decision has been made.

When Ford announced the 2016 closure of its Australian operations in May, it did so less than a week after the decision was made to prevent any leaks to the media.

A 2016 closure would coincide with the timing of the end of the new Commodore's current lifecycle.

However a secret SA Government document prepared in August floated the idea of a 2018 shutdown by extending the life of the current Cruze and Commodore.

Holden yesterday confirmed boss Mike Devereux was staying on in the role until next February.

Mr Devereux was supposed to finish up this month after being promoted to a senior international role with General Motors, based in China. Mr Devereux made a surprise visit to the Elizabeth Holden factory yesterday to address workers.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union SA secretary John Camillo said Mr Devereux did not tell them when a decision about the carmaker's future in SA will be made.

"He never went to the situation of whether a decision is going to be made before or after Christmas but he did indicate that (Holden's parent company) General Motors will make that decision," Mr Camillo said.

 

[PIR4TE]

Abbott on radio demanding Holden 'fess up because he's copping heat.

 

[corhijasna]

until the bosses at holden and gm come out and reveal their plans going forward we are always going to have this bs coming from reporters who can't find anything else to write about

 

[PIR4TE]

Sarah Martin, Dowling's scudgee offsider stirring the pot with wrong information again - yesterday's gossip article has been completely rewritten - originally it was an "exclusive" that GM has decided to pull Holden out of Australia.
I had to subscribe to The Australian to get this premium content, a totally rewritten article backtracking same old same old. Dowling and Martin - Professional Journalists my arse, The Australian Saturday November 7:

"GENERAL Motors decided to close its Holden operation in Adelaide as part of a global restructure that involves the closure of three plants worldwide.

The Detroit-based motor giant, which had planned to announce the closure yesterday, granted Holden a last-minute reprieve after deciding it didn't want to book the cost of the closure in this quarter's financial results.

The postponed announcement has left the Holden workforce in limbo, with deep uncertainty about the company's future in Australia and hardened rhetoric from the government that it would not increase financial assistance to the carmaker.

GM signed off on the plans last month, sources close to the decision said.

The other closures, which include one in Korea, are expected to go ahead but Holden was granted a stay of execution so that GM could spread its balance-sheet writedowns, which already include up to $1 billion this quarter.


Holden yesterday denied that a final decision had been made on the plant's future.

However, its closure announcement had already been drafted and circulated, sources said, with workers due to be informed of the decision at yesterday's 2.15pm change of shift.

A decision in the early hours of Wednesday morning forced a change of plan.

GM had decided "to cut Holden some slack" after it appealed for a stay of execution in the hope of winning over the government on additional funding.

Holden wants long-term commitments to help fund the replacement for the Commodore from 2016, which was scheduled to be the Malibu mid-size sedan, and eventually annual "rent" payments to keep its Adelaide plant alive.

Without the additional cash, Holden would pull out as early as 2016, at the same time Ford will shut its factories in Victoria.

The government dug in its heels yesterday. Tony Abbott said it would offer nothing beyond the $500 million in funding to 2017 promised at the September election. "We think there's more than enough money on the table," the Prime Minister said. "But there is no more.

"We took a policy to the election that ... includes very substantial ongoing support for the motor industry. We stand ready to make that support available."

He called on Holden to set the record straight on where it stood. "The message we're getting from Holden is they're in two minds; I would like them to clarify exactly what their position is," he said.

The government has asked the Productivity Commission to review the merits of providing financial assistance to the car industry, with a draft report due on December 20 and a final report at the end of March next year.

A source close to the government said it believed Holden had already decided it was going and the Coalition was now resigned to the decision. "It's game over," he said, "but this is political poison."

The government believes it is being painted as the villain when the decision to quit has already been made. "They have decided to leave Australia; it is now a matter of timing," one minister said.

Another raised doubts about the government's strategy.

Holden sources said Mr Abbott's comments were an "extraordinary" attempt by the Coalition to "bully" GM into an announcement before Christmas.

Coalition sources said Mr Hockey was told of the imminent decision on Wednesday morning, but by that evening GM had changed its plans.

Company insiders say Mr Hockey and Mr Abbott are trying to force Holden's hand by making the company's decision public. Sources say the Prime Minister and Treasurer want the bad news of Holden's closure finalised before the end of year.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said "right-wing ideologues" within the Coalition wanted Holden to leave. He said Holden managing director Mike Devereux had denied reports about the decision and MPs committed to "scorched earth economics" were trying to undermine Holden. "The right-wing ideologues in cabinet are saying ... let's scupper this right now," Mr Weatherill said. "If Tony Abbott had any guts at all, he would be here looking these workers in the face and telling them that he has already made up his mind."

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary John Camillo said absenteeism was increasing at the Elizabeth plant because of the uncertainty surrounding its future.

"We've got workers, we've got families, we've got communities who are really worried about whether Holden is going to survive or not," Mr Camillo said.

GM is understood to have rescheduled the closure announcement for late January, after the Detroit motor show.

I want my $1 back from News Corp. This is not news reporting. Dowling has been crapping on Holden trying to kill it for at least 18 months now!!