Opposition leader Tony Abbott lauded the locally-made Ford Territory as he committed to increasing exports of Australian cars.
During a visit to Geelong Mr Abbott said he was “very concerned for the people of Geelong” with recent announcement by Shell and Ford continuing to lose sales ground.
“When the Prime Minister recently announced increased assistance to companies like Ford, she said that jobs would increase there. Instead, jobs have decreased there,” he said.
“We will ensure that our assistance is linked with credible plans to get the industry to a state where it is sustainable and it will be sustainable because our great Australian cars will be more exported in the future then they are now.
“I know the excellence of the Ford product of Geelong because I drive a Ford Territory and the Ford Territory is arguably the best car ever made in this country.
“It is a much better SUV than most of the SUVs that sell for much higher prices.
“We need to get the Ford Territory exported to the world. It is a world-beating vehicle. Let’s get it out there and let’s beat the world.”
Liberal candidate for Corangamite Sarah Henderson linked local manufacturing woes to the carbon tax.
“Wherever I go, from the big manufacturers to the small businesses, I’m hearing one message: the carbon tax is a tax on Geelong, a tax on jobs and a tax on local prosperity.
“It is causing enormous damage out there.”
