interesting artical in the Geelong addy

[Jason[98.EL]]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/...1318_news.html

GEELONG'S manufacturing sector remains the major driver for the region's economy.

Figures released yesterday by City Hall show the manufacturing sector contributing the most towards Gross Regional Product last year.

The sector contributed $1.7 billion to GRP, followed by rental, hiring and real estate services ($1.2 billion) and health care and social assistance ($929 million).

This is despite the number of employees shrinking dramatically.

The number of workers at Ford is now a fraction of what it was 30 years ago, while other manufacturers such as International Harvester and Pilkington have disappeared in that time.

Manufacturing is still one of our major employment sectors, coming in third behind heath care and retailing

one of the reasons why we need Ford in Geelong / Melbourne if that is what it brings in we need it it to be suported big time ( those numbers are for Geelong only so can only imagine what it is to melb )

Look at the artical for the whole thing

Jason

[mik]

It`s hard to understand the mind set of people that think "who needs manufacturing well import it", manufacturing has so many benefits, apart from the obvious ones, it gives people jobs, even lower skilled jobs, not every one is a rocket scientist or engineer, without these sorts of jobs , many would be on the dole.

[olds]

The future of geelongs ford plant depends on how people vote at the next election

[Nikked]

Joe Hockey is already on the go, calling to end government support for the industry...and that's bad, because i don't think labor will be here come September...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Joe Hockey is already on the go, calling to end government support for the industry...and that's bad, because i don't think labor will be here come September...

I don’t think he is to be honest. If you read his comments, his actually unhappy with the way Labor supports this industry & not for nil support of this industry altogether. I'm hoping Libs clarify their position before the next election.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Joe Hockey is already on the go, calling to end government support for the industry...and that's bad, because i don't think labor will be here come September...

mr bumby and mr bracks were going on about getting rid of the grand prix for many years because it was a waste of money
once they were in, they kept it . . . . . but, like others have said, it doesn't seem mr hockey is against it, just the way it is run at present

[mik]

I don`t think the opposition would be silly enough to put many people /potential voters off side, hopefully they would have a better way of giving industry a hand to stay viable without hand outs.

If and when it happens , it will be interesting to see what opposition do with the carbon tax, from memory the CT starts to hit some entity`s with a fuel hit after the election should the incumbent gov stay in power.