Our own Govt's not buying (enough) Aussie cars

[CAMS290]

So we have the state and federal governments handing out money to keep the last 3 manufacturers going in Australia, and the same governments are not supporting the car industry by purchasing more cars for their fleets.

There should be a directive by ALL government departments to purchase Australian made cars when possible, that's my opinion anyway.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politi...718-22a03.html

[Jim Goose]

While its a good idea in theory....

There is a thing called competition.

If government bought cars soley on the "made in Australia" theme, it would leave itself open to being taken to court.

Federal Government legislation means it HAS TO BUY under the banner... "value for money" (with no regard to social and industry inpact)

[SM1DY]

Gold Coast coppers get Volkswagen Passat's as unmarked cars

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

While its a good idea in theory....

There is a thing called competition.

If government bought cars soley on the "made in Australia" theme, it would leave itself open to being taken to court.

Federal Government legislation means it HAS TO BUY under the banner... "value for money" (with no regard to social and industry inpact)

It's not legislation, it is purchasing directives issued by various Treasury offices around the country. They could have "made in Australia" as a foremost consideration if they wanted to. Federal, State and Territory governments can exercise this sort of discretion if they want in the name of the national interest.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

While its a good idea in theory....

There is a thing called competition.

If government bought cars soley on the "made in Australia" theme, it would leave itself open to being taken to court.

Federal Government legislation means it HAS TO BUY under the banner... "value for money" (with no regard to social and industry inpact)

Incorrect, departments are supposed to buy Australian as first resort, the problem is that annual performance bonuses are bases on cost savings - so they will ignore the buy Australian directive with taxpayer money just so they can get their $800 performance bonus. It's a big problem with public servants.

[FGX-351]

I completely agree and have been of this opinion for quite a while.

All Governments first and foremost need to support local jobs and manufacturing when purchasing their work vehicles.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Incorrect, departments are supposed to buy Australian as first resort, the problem is that annual performance bonuses are bases on cost savings - so they will ignore the buy Australian directive with taxpayer money just so they can get their $800 performance bonus. It's a big problem with public servants.

I think you're confusing KPI's with a "bonus"...public servants don't get bonuses...that's called cronyism and corruption, the agency has KPI's to meet in terms of efficiency dividends back to Treasury which in turn goes on the Annual Report of the agency. Which in turn is a measurement of whether or not the respective Director General or the next Executive level under him gets a contract renewal.

[Bossxr8]

Its makes zero sense to pump money into an industry then do bugger all to support them.

100% counter-productive.

[Rockape]

I Just dont understand why they dont buy Australian. They should

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Incorrect, departments are supposed to buy Australian as first resort, the problem is that annual performance bonuses are bases on cost savings - so they will ignore the buy Australian directive with taxpayer money just so they can get their $800 performance bonus. It's a big problem with public servants.

Really? and you have read the legislation? worked for a federal government procurements department have you?

[DJR-351]

Theres a couple of very nice Audi Q7's here on the island sporting government plates....

[GS608]

Have noticed this of late, Aurion built in oz? majority of police stations are filled with these with maybe a handful of Commos and 1 or 2 Falcons..HWP are exclusively Ford and Holden though, noticed a lot more Hyundais..iLoad/Santa Fe.

Probably the only Govt department that still buys Aussie..

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Really? and you have read the legislation? worked for a federal government procurements department have you?

Yeah my wife is in goverment procurement, it's blatant that they are supposed to buy Australian- they don't want to if it means it affects their budgets. Where she is they have replaced 36 Corollas and Focuses with Cruzes

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Really? and you have read the legislation? worked for a federal government procurements department have you?

Have you??

How is saying "buy Australian made" & different to them already saying "you can’t buy a 6 cylinder"??

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Yeah my wife is in goverment procurement, it's blatant that they are supposed to buy Australian- they don't want to if it means it affects their budgets. Where she is they have replaced 36 Corollas and Focuses with Cruzes

What Tha. They replaced 2 foreign made cars with a car that cant be called australian made.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Yeah my wife is in goverment procurement, it's blatant that they are supposed to buy Australian- they don't want to if it means it affects their budgets. Where she is they have replaced 36 Corollas and Focuses with Cruzes

There are managers that will claim buying Hyundais or Corrolas saves the taxpayer money,
I think its all smoke and mirrors as they recover most of the discounted outlay at resale.

I recon Ford should start fighting fire with fire and use its Thai base models to stir things up..

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

While its a good idea in theory....

There is a thing called competition.

If government bought cars soley on the "made in Australia" theme, it would leave itself open to being taken to court.

Federal Government legislation means it HAS TO BUY under the banner... "value for money" (with no regard to social and industry inpact)

The government can introduce legislation to circumvent any possible avenue for legal action against it.

I think you're missing the big picture here, that is, governments and government departments have the ability to buy Australian made vehicles, they chose not to. Ministerial directives need to be made to force government agencies to buy Australian made first, the rest of the purchasing decisions can be based on 'fit for purpose' requirements.

Like many I cannot understand why the Federal Government tips in hundreds of millions of dollars into the car industry, then has state governments and government agencies give the Federal government the middle finger by purchasing imported vehicles. The decision of a few impacts many, many people. I believe 400,000 people are directly and indirectly affected by vehicle manufacturing in Australia.

If Ford shuts down Falcon production the sh$# will really hit the fan. I'm glad the Government is addressing the issue faced by Ford (and to a lesser degree Holden) by having this matter raised at the next COAG meeting.

Many countries have policies which mandate or support purchasing local produced goods or services. About time Australia did the same.

[OzJavelin]

Cant wait to see Julia pull up in a Hyundai to address an automotive workers rally telling them that the Govt did all they could to save the Australian car industry ...

[jpd80]

The worrying thing is that her government is on borrowed time and they know it,
the opposition is already pursuing government grants being used as pork barreling
ahead of the next election and it is possible that monies promised to the local industry
could be reversed by the next government..

[turbodewd]

Well gents I recommend you did what I did and email your local members about the issue. I have emailed 3 on the matter. I got a reply from Federal member Kate Lundy (ACT) which was good.

I also emailed NSW RTA wondering why their Newcastle carpark was full of Hyundais and not Falcons or Cruzes or Commodores, etc. No reply from those slackers yet.

Man, if China has a property bust Australia is in for a world of hurt! We need an auto industry.

[kaniSS]

I saw a Hyundai patrol car at my local cop shop the other day... A Patrol Car not the big van they use but a patrol car.

[BaraFGXR6]

Police departments - at least in NSW, are not going to be updating to the FG2. Simply to expensive for them compared to the commodore as is the trend now where alot of HWP are being phased out for the SS. At least its still Australian although there are a few imports in circulation but these are mainly for unmarked/ promotional duties only.

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Really? and you have read the legislation? worked for a federal government procurements department have you?

If you know something about this then enlighten us so we're all better informed rather than making a statement in an earlier post and then asking questions.

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by BaraFGXR6

Police departments - at least in NSW, are not going to be updating to the FG2. Simply to expensive for them compared to the commodore as is the trend now where alot of HWP are being phased out for the SS. At least its still Australian although there are a few imports in circulation but these are mainly for unmarked/ promotional duties only.

I've seen them driving marked Mitsubishi Lancers in Sydney. Ambos have some Subaru Forrestors.

[BaraFGXR6]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I've seen them driving marked Mitsubishi Lancers in Sydney. Ambos have some Subaru Forrestors.

I was more referring to HWP in my post.

The marked cars that different stations have are really dependant on what the station wants rather than a contract. They do have contracts with toyota, nissan and mitsubishi that allows them to have a different selection but again this is what the station chooses - they dont have to just stick to ford/holden for normal marked cars.

Funny thing is that ACT police - being directly near our parliment - run around in practically anything pulling people over. Iv seen everything from unmarked volkswagon golfs to a very slick sigma (yeah, the old ***** boxes..) pulling people over whilst driving through there.

Cant comment on the Ambos that much. All i know is they have some subaru XT foresters for rapid response vehicles and that it.

[PridenJoy]

Was getting a coffee the other day in Carlton, brand new FGII XR6T marked highway patrol cop car stopped and two coppers came out to grab a coffee

[GTP534]

Hi Bara,

Thanks for that. On the M4 the other day, I even saw 2 police officers in what looked like a Toyota pickup, not sure of the model but the one with half a cab and a tray out the back, pull up a driver.

Yep, the ambos in Subarus are rapid response and the Rural Fire Service have some too.

[lockieoc]

I know for the police fleet the Camry will be gradually replaced by the i45 and all the old Terry Turbos have been replaced by Grand Cherokee's.

[BLUEYBA]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

While its a good idea in theory....

There is a thing called competition.

If government bought cars soley on the "made in Australia" theme, it would leave itself open to being taken to court.

Federal Government legislation means it HAS TO BUY under the banner... "value for money" (with no regard to social and industry inpact)

And then it sits there and tell us to buy Australian and support our jobs and disregard value for money. These governments should be supporting its people but all our governments seem to do is help other countries with jobs

[graham7773]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Really? and you have read the legislation? worked for a federal government procurements department have you?

A quote from an article by Syd Maher in The Australian.

"A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Penny Wong said rules on federal government car selections had been tightened to specify that they must be made in Australia unless there was no suitable alternative"

Jim Goose, I just started another thread using an article which included the quote above. Yes, there is a government directive to use Australian made vehicles as much as possible.