ILL ZU Mar. IJ 1u : 64 NO.-UU? -~ UI/
PRIME MINISTER
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P j KEATING, MP
OPENING OF T14E GMX' S ENAMEL FAINT FACTORY PROJECT
ELIZABETH ADELAIDE, 20 MARCH 1992
Mr Smith, Premnier Bannon, ladies and gentlemen.
This ceremonvy marks another significant investment by GMH
in Australia, and further entrenches its commitment to
this state and this nation.
It is a $ 120 million re-affirmation of confidence in the
future of car making in Australia.
More than that, it demonstrates the company's confidence
in the industry's ability to be world competitive.
It is an investment which recognises not only the need to
embrace international best practice in quality and
standards, but our ability to do it.
I congratulate GMH on their confidence and vision.
I also believe the union movement has reason to be proud
today. The success of this investment is assured by their
recognition of the need for an effective partnership with
management. Such partnerships are at the heart of the government's
strategy for our economic future, which is embodied in
the One Nati~ on statement.
In recent years there has been a great change in the
industrial cultu re of Australia, and that is what we are
going to build on.
There is a new understanding, a new recognition of what
can be done.
101 -2
With it comes new confidence and, with that, most
importantly, new jobs.
And there are more grounds than this for confidence.
The productivity and export competitiveness of our
efficient manufacturing industries is growing year by
year. In the motor vehicle industry exports have increased by
more than 1.50% since 1984; from $ 369 million to over
$ 950 million i-n 1990.
The figure for 1991 is expected to be in excess of $ 1.1
billion, and by the end of the century our automotive
exports will exceed $ 2 billion in today's dollars.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Just as we are witnessing the emergence of a new car
industry, so w-e will see the emergence of a much stronger
Australia in thie 1990s.
The fundamentals are being put in place.
Low interest rates, low inflation, lower labour costs and
the new industrial culture are making us more competitive
on world markets.
The initiatives taken in the One Nation document will
take us further -much further.
This new emphasis on partnership, on pooling our energy
and ideas, on shared national goals, combined with the
great infrastruCture projects, higher quality training
support, greater incentives to investment -when One
Nation begins to work its chemistry we will see just how
strong Australia can be.
Ladies and gentlemen.
General Motors H-olden has long been a household name in
Australia, and this new project says very clearly to the
country that It will continue to be.
We welcome that and congratulate the Company and all
those associated with this project.
And we wish it: well in the future.
Thank you.