MANUFACTURING and Export Minister Andre Haermeyer called a national summit last week to tackle a downturn in the manufacturing industry .
Mr Haermeyer called the summit with sobering figures showing 180 jobs have been lost each day over the last five years in the manufacturing sector.
The summit, held on Monday and Tuesday, follows a Federal Government announcement of an inquiry into employment in the automotive component manufacturing industry.
Industry, unions and state governments signed a communique committing the parties to develop an Australian manufacturing industry that could thrive in the global environment.
“Manufacturing in Australia is at a crossroads,” Mr Haermeyer said.
“If we stand by and do nothing, we run the risk of being victims of a changing world environment.”
Campbellfield seatbelt and air bag manufacturer Autoliv was one of numerous companies to announce job losses in the automotive manufacturing industry this year.
The company announced the loss of 500 jobs over 18 months, while seat manufacturer Kozma Industries has cut 60 jobs as its Campbellfield plant just before Christmas.
ION Limited, which manufactures automotive components, went into voluntary administration late last year, leaving administrators to sell off its assets.
ION Transmissions, which is in the process of being sold to Powertrain Products, laid off 200 staff at its Albury plant in October.
After talks to sell an engine plant in Altona North to an international automotive company, the building was eventually sold to Australia Post.
And about 440 jobs will be lost when automotive trimwear company Silcraft closes in late 2007.
Jobs within the automotive manufacturing companies themselves are also at risk, with Ford hoping to slash its Victorian workforce by up to 300 jobs, offering redundancy packages to workers at a Broadmeadows plant earlier this month.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state secretary Dave Oliver said industry leaders discussed a range of issues at the summit, including an excess of bureaucracy between the state and federal governments, a lack of support, a skills shortage and problems attracting foreign interests.
“Now a national manufacturing forum will be established comprising government, employer and union representatives and they will be putting together a strategic plan for the industry,” he said.
“Hopefully the Federal Government will come and play a constructive role.
“It was long overdue and let’s just hope it’s not too late.
“There is a lot of hope out there.”
The House of Representatives Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation Committee will investigate employment in automotive component manufacturing.
People and organisations can make written submissions to the inquiry by 10 February.
Further details of the inquiry can be found on the website www.aph.-gov.au/house/committee/ewrwp/ or by calling (02) 6277 4162.
