[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Bring forward $500 million Fed Car Innovation Fund

[Parnell]

Media Release
5th February 2008

Mitsubishi: Bring forward $500 million Fed Car Innovation Fund


Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called on Premier Mike Rann to lobby Prime
Minister Rudd to bring forward his $500 million Green Car Innovation
Fund in the wake of this afternoon's decision to close the Mitsubishi
plant at Tonsley.

The $500 million Fund, announced by Kevin Rudd in March 2007, and
designed to kick-start the manufacturing of low emission vehicles such
as hybrid, flexible fuel and low emission diesel vehicles, is not due to
commence until 2011 - still 3 years away.

"In the wake of today's announcement, Mike Rann should be demanding
Prime Minister Rudd provide support for a new future in car
manufacturing right now - not just in three years time," Mr Parnell
said.

"Future car manufacturing in South Australia must be focused on hybrid,
electric or other green alternatives. In this age of peak oil, rising
petrol prices and climate change, it's foolhardy to continue to build
large petrol-driven cars here.

"Unless we embrace a new type of car manufacturing, the depressing
demise of Mitsubishi's Australian operations will be repeated at
Holden's.  The twin threats of peak oil and climate change will force
our hand, unless we move decisively first," he said. 

The Government must also look seriously at other manufacturing options
for the Tonsley site that focus on fixing up our urgent water, energy
and public transport challenges.

"We face many urgent challenges, particularly around water security,
public transport infrastructure and peak electricity demand.  If we can
create and manufacture home-grown solutions here, we can export our
great ideas to the world, guaranteeing smart jobs into the future.

"We need to get smarter and recognise that the most sustainable
industries are the ones building the next generation of green products,"
Mark Parnell said.


 
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893


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