Today's announcement by Ford that it plans to shed another 450 jobs from its operations in Broadmeadows and Geelong is a further blow for workers at Ford, and yet another indication of the significant challenges Australia's car manufacturing industry continues to face Calwell Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou said today.
"My immediate concern is for the welfare of those workers and their families who will be affected by this announcement," Ms Vamvakinou said.
"My priority is to make sure that affected workers at Ford receive appropriate support to help them identify future employment and re-training opportunities and towards this end, I have already spoken with the Minister of Employment Participation.
"As well as Job Search Support, affected Ford employees will be eligible for assistance under the Australian Government’s Productivity Places Program 'Structural Adjustment Places'.
"These extra 10,000 places were announced as part of the Rudd Government’s $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy.
"Structural Adjustment Places will provide retraining opportunities and targeted support to displaced workers at Certificate II, III and IV levels.
"With a slowing global economy, the Rudd Government is committed to supporting and training job seekers to ensure all those who can benefit from extra help are able to access these places.
The new places will take the Rudd Government’s total commitment to the Productivity Places Program to more than $2 billion with more than 700,000 new training places to be created over five years.
"I would encourage workers to register with an employment services provider as soon as their redundancy is confirmed," Ms Vamvakinou said.
"This is a difficult time for Australia’s automotive industry and for those who work in the industry.
"The effects of declining car sales at Ford have been further exacerbated by slowing global growth and fears generated by the global financial turmoil.
"Declining car sales and slowing global growth underpins the importance of taking steps now to strengthen our car industry and making it sustainable in the long term.
"This includes a greater focus on building smaller, more fuel efficient cars here, and on better identifying and taking advantage of overseas export opportunities.
"The Government is working closely with Australia's car and component makers to reinvent the automotive industry, making it strong and sustainable and ensuring high-wage, high-skill jobs for the long term.
"The Government's response to the Bracks Automotive review will be announced soon. It will be a comprehensive package that will assist in the transformation of the industry, making it cleaner, greener and more innovative."
"I am optimistic about the future of car manufacturing in Australia and about the future prospects for Ford Australia, which will start to manufacture the Ford Focus in Victoria in 2011."
Contact: Alex Kouttab 0417 541 465
