South Australia’s Premier Jay Weatherill laid blame for the Holden closure at the feet of the federal government.

“Holden’s decision to close its Elizabeth plant is devastating news for the workers and families who rely on the automotive industry,” Weatherill said.

“Tony Abbott and his Coalition Government have turned their backs on this industry and the people in it.

“Holden had made it abundantly clear that if the support committed by the previous federal Labor Government remained on the table it would stay in Australia.

“By cutting funding and, in the past week, by attacking Holden, Tony Abbott and the Coalition have forced Holden out of Australia.”

Weatherill said the closure (due at the end of 2017) will affect up to 13,000 jobs.

“My first concern is with the workers, their families and everyone connected with the car industry.

“This affects up to 13,000 jobs in South Australia.”

Weatherill said the social and economic cost of the decision would be enormous.

“The Federal Government will have a massive price to pay,” he said.

“I will begin discussions about that with Tony Abbott tomorrow.

“South Australians have always demonstrated their enormous resilience in the face of
adversity.”