[PeterAllen]

People complain about subsidies to automakers, but they amount to bugger-all especially when you compare them to the tax concessions and rebates given to the mining industry!

Let's get the facts straight. Ford has been given $1.1 billion in total from Australian Governments since 2000 (Liberal and Labor) and in return invested over $3.3 billion. Then factor in business and sales taxes on components, wages and car sales and it's safe to say that Governments have got their money back.

Australia has the LEAST protected automotive industry out of all of the countries in the world that make automobiles yet we are also one of about 15 countries with an industry mature enough to produce a car from a clean sheet of paper to the final product.

A bit of economic history - the electon of the first Australian Govermnent (Fed) 1900, was fought out between Protectionist and Free-Traders.

Have a good night's sleep and watch the sun rise on a new day tomorrow.