Could Kevin Rudd/Kim Carr pursuade Ford to reverse shut down decision?

[Dash_XR]

As long as he doesn't promise it in the election we're in with a chance.

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Hulsty

You forgot the loss in revenue to the government coffers from all the people employed and supported by the manufacturing industry, both directly and indirectly. So overall the budget will have less money in it to spend on other things, ie Health care, education etc etc. .

Hulsty

I deliberately left that out, as the vast majority of people employed in those business will find other employment, that they will pay taxes on. However, I suspect the employment they find will either be casual/part time and at a substantial lower wage than they currently have.

They will unlikely be able to sustain their current lifestyle, so houses, cars will need to be sold, holidays not taken, sporting events not attended and so on. We will feel the affects on our economy.

[BroadyFord]

Keep in mind that my question was in relation to if Rudd wins Government at the election.

Obviously he won't be able to do anything within 8 or so weeks.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

Keep in mind that my question was in relation to if Rudd wins Government at the election.

Obviously he won't be able to do anything within 8 or so weeks.

That won't happen, unless he becomes Lazarus with a triple bypass V.2.0

The result of the WA election earlier this year is the bellwether for the federal election.

[nstg8a]

I wouldn't rule out Rudd doing the impossible. With his popularity, and abbots unpopularity anything is possible.

Be nice if whoever gets the gig actually put some thought into import laws.

It's too late for ford IMO, but Holden and Toyota are still here and worth saving.

[EgoFG]

I reckon it would take:
1) All government businesses to by Australian only (this gives a fairly full range of cars - but there would need to be an exception for fire trucks)
2) Better "Free Trade" solution than is currently in operation with Thailand (prehaps free trade with all countries that import from Australia at least 7% of the vehicle value that Australia imports from them. If this is not met then a small tariff could apply maybe 7% of actual retail value, half of which is distributed for car manufacturing support in Aust. the distribution would be based on actual retail value of cars manufactured in Australia
3) a year with two blue moons

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Hulsty

I deliberately left that out, as the vast majority of people employed in those business will find other employment, that they will pay taxes on. .

I don’t agree with this comment. Yes the individuals involved will mostly like go on to get new employment. But if 1500 jobs are lost & not replaced by real newly created jobs, the net effect is still 1500 less jobs for the government to collect money from.

[Fordman1]

No they can't?

Ford can make more money importing cars, and more money exporting cars from other countries.

End of story unfortunately

[Happyone]

Rudd ain't no superman .....If Ford want out then nothing will change their mind.


Fact is I'm getting used to the idea we might start to see some better quality in the cars, if they do import ....Just Sayin !!

[Gadgetman]

No one will reverse Ford's decision. This thread is someones wet dream.

[Cam]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

Just a thought...

Kevin Rudd (and Kim Carr (a Rudd backer)) was the man who developed the New Car Plan which has effectively kept car manufacturing alive.

Rudd has repeatedly said he "doesn't want to be PM of a country that doesn't make things" and lambasted Gillard for dropping the Green Car Fund (which I reckon would have saved Ford had it still been around).

So, assuming Kim Carr is rewarded (again) with the industry portfolio, does anyone think he could meet with Ford to try and get them to change track? It's not too late IMO, so long as something is done relatively quickly - i.e. before the election and before the end of the year when any prospect of developing a new model (lead times etc.) evaporates.

As much as I'd like to think its a possibility, the answer is no. Sadly our "awesome economy" also comes with high wages. Whilst the rest of the world can produce cars cheaper then here, business decisions will be based around purely that, business. It's sad that long standing OZ companies like ACL will go down the gurgler with ford, but as as long as companies are in business to make money, it's "just business". I shudder to think where we will be in say 30 years time when the wages around the world start to match ours. Not much different to the car industry in the UK, whom not that long ago used to have a massive car manufacturing industry. These days. It's all but non existent.

All we can do is sit back and watch the inevitable unfold..

[FPV8U]

I'd say there is about 0.1% Chance of turning Fords closure around and it would take a world leading Auto Manufacturer policy combined with Import taxes/tarrifs to achive any hope of it lasting more than a few extra years on life support.

Back that up with the fact that sadly Australians don't seem to care about this dying sector and don't wish to see money spent on it combined with higher costs for the cars they do want to buy isn't going to win alot of votes.

In short, not going to happen.

[2011G6E]

Possibly...

Labor has a pretty good record of spending up big with money they (read: the taxpayer and country) doesn't have, and don't really have a problem with chucking us further into debt, even to support a non-performing industry...

[Bossxr8]

Ford North America want to protect/create jobs for americans, they don't give a flying f about Australian jobs. Simple as that.

[H.G]

I reckon it's time we let go and accept ford australa is dead in the water..
It's like spending your imaginary lottery win... Speaking of which......

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by WPR1

I doubt it Rudd, Gillard and the whole Labor lot are a laughing stock I would be surprised if any Company would take them seriously. With their track record who knows how long Rudd will be around for.

I doubt little kevvie will be in long enuf to warm the seat
Imagine with all that foolishness how Australia is looked upon .....
If people within the same party can do what has happened in recent times, and they are supposed to be team players on the one team
Imagine what they can do to whats left of this country .....

[Buntz]

I thought about posing this very same question to the forum. Great minds think alike I suppose.

It's my personal belief however that Ford has been waiting for these kinds of conditions for ages... they finally got the excuse to get rid of the troublesome Australian outfit. Unfortunately for the team at Broadmedows, they weren't American, then they'd be invaluable.

However, Kim Carr is quite an intelligent and fair man, and if anyone could convince Ford to stay, it would be him, but whether they will or not, depends on Dearborn.

[XW-BAXR6T]

Australia is the lucky country no more because the world has changed, we now live in a global economy & we didnt adapt to this change. As the saying goes, adapt or perish. If our leaders aren't carefully or if they don't have the balls to tackles things that matter in this great nation we may truly end up as a banana republic as Paul keating once predicted.

[Vormund]

I doubt much of anything will happen to change Ford's mind.

However it was reassuring for Kev to once again say that he wants this country to be able to build things.

My plan would be to raise tariffs again, but have lower tariffs on imported cars for manufacturers that do build here. So for example, Holden and Toyota get reduced tariffs on car imported here because they also build here.

Full importer brands get slapped with maximum tariffs. Perhaps a middle ground on reduced tariffs for cars that are build here from CKD.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

I reckon it would take:
1) All government businesses to by Australian only (this gives a fairly full range of cars - but there would need to be an exception for fire trucks)

Please explain the exemption for Fire Trucks.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Cam

Not much different to the car industry in the UK, whom not that long ago used to have a massive car manufacturing industry. These days. It's all but non existent.

All we can do is sit back and watch the inevitable unfold..

Actually it is the opposite, in the 90s the UK was building around 900,000 a year, but thanks to Goverment policy and government co investment they built 1.9 million last year. The UK auto industry is now booming thanks to smart Government policy. It's an example for Australia.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Hulsty

I deliberately left that out, as the vast majority of people employed in those business will find other employment, that they will pay taxes on.

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I don’t agree with this comment. Yes the individuals involved will mostly like go on to get new employment. But if 1500 jobs are lost & not replaced by real newly created jobs, the net effect is still 1500 less jobs for the government to collect money from.

Which is my point with SPC Ardmona. The fruit growers have asked for $28 million in loans so they can replant and people won't loose jobs. No visit from the PM, no $millions to retrain staff loosing their jobs, no $billion subsidy, no NDIS HQ. Zip. Did I mention they are not in a marginal electorate?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

Please explain the exemption for Fire Trucks.

Not made here so you can't enforce Australian made policy ...

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Vormund

I doubt much of anything will happen to change Ford's mind.

However it was reassuring for Kev to once again say that he wants this country to be able to build things.

My plan would be to raise tariffs again, but have lower tariffs on imported cars for manufacturers that do build here. So for example, Holden and Toyota get reduced tariffs on car imported here because they also build here.

Full importer brands get slapped with maximum tariffs. Perhaps a middle ground on reduced tariffs for cars that are build here from CKD.

Hopefully Kev means business. But perhaps instead of raising tariffs, local cars could get tax breaks, reducing their cost.

[Cam]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Actually it is the opposite, in the 90s the UK was building around 900,000 a year, but thanks to Goverment policy and government co investment they built 1.9 million last year. The UK auto industry is now booming thanks to smart Government policy. It's an example for Australia.

Sorry, should've clarified. I meant 30 years ago. Back when Britain were in the top 4 vehicle manufactures in the world. "not so long ago" is always subjective to how you look at things...

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

I reckon it would take:
1) All government businesses to by Australian only (this gives a fairly full range of cars - but there would need to be an exception for fire trucks)

Originally Posted by jpd80

Not made here so you can't enforce Australian made policy ...

SEM Fire and Rescue have been making Fire Trucks in Victoria since 1955. They are about to start on another round of redundancies - 10 will go this time.

I imagine that if SEM received $1 for every $3 they invest SEM would be a very profitable business!

[Vormund]

Originally Posted by Buntz

Hopefully Kev means business. But perhaps instead of raising tariffs, local cars could get tax breaks, reducing their cost.

Well either/or really.

I think both Toyota and Holden make more money just because of their imported cars and not due to local assembly unfortunately. What I was conjuring up with would actually help in a situation like that...but no local assembly at all and they don't get any benefits.

Perhaps picture this: If Mazda decided to build the 3 here, they would get a reduced tariff across their whole range. That's probably worth something.

[carwant.com.au]

Kevin has about 8 weeks to win everyones votes and lead the country for the next term, or longer.
Whilst this thread could be a dream, it is possible with numbers.....
All Kevin wants now is everyones vote - thats it and i bet at any cost. If he wins, he will work out the cost to fund his promises later.

Somehow, we need alot of people to get this message across to Kevin (we want Ford to stay); by alot of people, we need at least 200,000+ people.
With these type of numbers, we have a voice and we know Kevin is desperate.
Question is, how do we get these type of numbers? Maybe a Facebook page with viral marketing. In other words, everyone likes and makes a genuine comment saying they will vote for Kevin if he keeps Ford for another 5 years or so. Numbers talk, get the numbers and you have a voice.
It's a tough ask, highly unlikely, but possible.....

[last fairlane]

I didnt know they built fire engines in Victoria
but here in Brisbane they build Mack and Volvo trucks
surely between the Brisbane plant and the one in Victoria
we could have all Australian fire trucks
not all fire trucks are the Eagle brand from the US
we also have Scania fire engines here
but I dont know who makes the bodies for them
also commonwealth,state governments and local councils
should be forced to buy local that would give the economy
a big boost we see XR6 and Commodore cop cars thats fine
but there seems to be a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio of Aus cars to imports
and that is not fair whats wrong with Falcon or Commy utes with paddy wagon bodies and not Hiluxes and why Landcruisers
and not Territorys for around town
out in the desert regions OK
yes I realise the Terry has its limits
but around town which is where 90% of the population live
just some thoughts
thanks John

[Lotte]

Originally Posted by floppy ears

Kevin has about 8 weeks to win everyones votes and lead the country for the next term, or longer.
Whilst this thread could be a dream, it is possible with numbers.....
All Kevin wants now is everyones vote - thats it and i bet at any cost. If he wins, he will work out the cost to fund his promises later.

Somehow, we need alot of people to get this message across to Kevin (we want Ford to stay); by alot of people, we need at least 200,000+ people.
With these type of numbers, we have a voice and we know Kevin is desperate.
Question is, how do we get these type of numbers? Maybe a Facebook page with viral marketing. In other words, everyone likes and makes a genuine comment saying they will vote for Kevin if he keeps Ford for another 5 years or so. Numbers talk, get the numbers and you have a voice.
It's a tough ask, highly unlikely, but possible.....

Start by writing letters to your local, there's already some facebook pages, and basically, yeah, just yell as loudly as we can. I'm in. And I'm sure some people here would be happy to make noise.
The yanks saved the mustang by writing letters, I'd put money on the right strategy+a lot of disgruntled aussies+the dropping of the dollar could equal a change of heart.