A “high-level” taskforce led by former federal industry minister Greg Combet will drive the State Government’s $60 million plan to support businesses and workers affected by the closure of Holden, Toyota and Ford, says Premier Jay Weatherill.
Combet was appointed late last year as South Australia’s Automotive Transformation Coordinator, initially to work with the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Taskforce.
Weatherill announced the establishment of the Automotive Transformation Taskforce yesterday. He said the 2014-15 state budget, to be delivered on Thursday, would include the $60.1 million over five years to which the State Government had previously committed for its “Our Jobs Plan” released in response to the planned closure of Holden’s Elizabeth plant.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said in a statement that the taskforce would “deliver support for affected workers to find new work, assist businesses to diversify and find new markets, and generate economy-wide job growth”.
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Director of the SA Centre for Economic Studies Michael O’Neil told InDaily yesterday that after helping workers who had lost their jobs as a result of the closure of the carmakers, the second priority should be assistance for SA auto component makers to diversify into new product areas or export markets.
“The way in which you offer it is not a handout to companies, but encouraging companies to apply for assistance funding where they say they have a business plan to move into providing products in another area,” he said.
The State Government said the Advanced Manufacturing Taskforce’s roles would include:
- Managing the design and delivery of programs and services to businesses and workers in the automotive supply chain and at GM Holden.
- Liaising with the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in the final design and roll-out of the $155 million Growth Fund.
- Working with GM Holden on the future of the Elizabeth site.
- Participating in Government-wide strategies to attract investment and jobs to the state.
- Providing a central point of coordination and communication.
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