426Cuda
SUBLIME!
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2013
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Yeah it pisses me off beyond words. As I've said many times, our economy and future employment of (dying) skills and labour will be impacted for a generation. Probably well beyond. Yet, I still hold out a glimer of hope that our once great manufacturing sector can be resurrected. But then I have an INTP personality that tends towards optimism. One thing is certain, the federal government raped our vehicle manufacturing industry. Then set about creating genocide. All the while the other parties and the bulk of the population stood by and let them do it. Then walked away, after years of turning their backs on our home grown products and the very talented men and women who took great pride in what they created. Even the bulk of members here on JC would argue that Holden died, because it became irrelevant. It's hogwash. Holden, Ford and Toyota Australia all had the capability to manufacture and export world class vehicles well into the future. What they needed was a Govt willing to create a trade environment that allowed them to get on with it. To compete. Sadly, they did the opposite.Unfortunately there are things I cannot state in an open forum as to what was going to happen and who screwed who. I can tell you now that everything you talked about was on the table based on the discussions with the government. The biggest culprit here is, as you rightly stated, the PM. Holden and GM had a plan for survival, it did include the local build of the Commodore and another 2 car lines from memory and rightly so one was a softroader 4x4. Hell they even squeezed a twin turbo v6 under an insignia and tried to get that to work.
Its just unfortunate that the public really has no idea how much work went into the back end to keep **** running here, including from the powers in the US. To have Mike Deveraux break down in delivering the news to the staff locally and SA speaks volumes. I am pissed for my kids and the future generations. The core of manufacturing has been ripped apart and we have no comeback. They talk about bespoke engineering taking over but its still not the same in the long run.
I don't see an industry built around bespoke engineering even coming close to filling the void that's left. Mark my words, my Grandchildren and their generation will look back on this as one of the most important issues that created a future, (despite my optimism) very different from the current state of excess.
I have completed individual tax returns for a prior PM, held numerous meetings with their deputies, ministers, in govt and opposition and their key advisors. Whether I agreed with their rhetoric or not, I always showed them respect. Should I ever find myself in Turnbull's presence however, I will not afford him the same.
I hope the facts you refer to see the light of day. Sooner rather than later.
You have insights most of us will never be privy to Arthur. I'd love to discuss it with you over a beer one day.