5 years ago
JOB CHANGES AT FORD A CHALLENGE TO MORRISON GOVERNMENT
SENATOR KIM CARR
Yesterday Ford Australia announced changes to its global engineering operations that will result in the loss of 200 jobs in Australia.
Ford proposes to maintain its overall employment numbers of about 2000.
The changes, which affect 120 employees and 80 contractors, will result in job losses and redeployment as well as new jobs.
The exact number of redundancies will depend on redeployment decisions.
Labor’s thoughts are with the Ford workers affected by this announcement, who are now facing an uncertain future.
Ford will invest $500 million in research and design in Australia in 2019, down from $574 million last year.
Labor expects that Ford will deal properly with its workforce, but we are concerned about this announcement, which comes at a time of great challenges for the global automotive industry.
The global industry faces slower sales and measures to cut costs and speed-up product development, including work on electric and autonomous vehicles.
In such times an effective partnership with Government is essential.
The Australian industry needs a strong partnership with Government to hold its place in the global industry and to attract investment.
The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government has shown no interest in developing such a partnership.
The Government goaded the motor vehicle producers to shut down the production of passenger cars in this country.
There have been six industry ministers in the past five years – all of them equally indifferent to the future of the auto industry.
Unlike the Liberals, Labor is prepared to be an effective partner with the automotive industry and its workforce.
A Shorten Labor Government will work to ensure the industry continues to attract investment, especially in research, engineering and design, to maintain and extend Australia’s advanced manufacturing capabilities .
Ford proposes to maintain its overall employment numbers of about 2000.
The changes, which affect 120 employees and 80 contractors, will result in job losses and redeployment as well as new jobs.
The exact number of redundancies will depend on redeployment decisions.
Labor’s thoughts are with the Ford workers affected by this announcement, who are now facing an uncertain future.
Ford will invest $500 million in research and design in Australia in 2019, down from $574 million last year.
Labor expects that Ford will deal properly with its workforce, but we are concerned about this announcement, which comes at a time of great challenges for the global automotive industry.
The global industry faces slower sales and measures to cut costs and speed-up product development, including work on electric and autonomous vehicles.
In such times an effective partnership with Government is essential.
The Australian industry needs a strong partnership with Government to hold its place in the global industry and to attract investment.
The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government has shown no interest in developing such a partnership.
The Government goaded the motor vehicle producers to shut down the production of passenger cars in this country.
There have been six industry ministers in the past five years – all of them equally indifferent to the future of the auto industry.
Unlike the Liberals, Labor is prepared to be an effective partner with the automotive industry and its workforce.
A Shorten Labor Government will work to ensure the industry continues to attract investment, especially in research, engineering and design, to maintain and extend Australia’s advanced manufacturing capabilities .