The Howard Government continues to ignore the precarious state of Australian manufacturing as the decline in manufacturing performance continues.
Report after report, survey after survey indicates that this vital section of the Australian economy continues to decline.
Figures from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) have shown that Australian manufacturing is experiencing record slow growth with some sectors in serious decline.
Of great concern is the fact that the survey results conclude that there is no relief in sight as it predicts activity to weaken even further in the September quarter.
Further, the three month outlook for manufactured exports is the weakest in the history of the AIG survey (since September 1992).
Recent figures obtained from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources have ETM export growth figures for the last three financial years were as follows:
2001-02 – Minus 0.5%
2002-03 – Minus 7 %
2003-04 – Minus 4%
On top of this, as seen in Melbourne last week, Australian factories are moving jobs offshore.
When confronted with these facts today in the Senate the Howard Government put up all sorts of excuses for this parlous state: the dollar is too strong; the domestic economy has grown so much that manufacturing necessarily has a smaller share; our competitors are too cheap.
The Howard/Costello Government have ignored the warning signs on the health of our manufacturing sector for far too long. The time for excuses is over – it is time for the Howard Government to take some decisive action.
Contact: Taryn Langdon 0147 148 059 or 02 6277 3334
