So first kick the industry in the guts, then promote them

[vztrt]

In all seriousness Bracks has to be doing it for the travel.

http://business.theage.com.au/busine...0723-duwk.html

Bracks and Conomos to sell car industry

Philip Hopkins

July 24, 2009
FORMER Victorian premier Steve Bracks and former Toyota Australia chief John Conomos are to act as roving international ambassadors to help drum up work for the Australian automotive sector.

Helping component suppliers gain access to international supply chains will be a key part of their brief. Mr Bracks will concentrate on the US, while Mr Conomos will focus on north Asia, particularly China.

The Federal Government has appointed the men under the automotive market access program (AMAP), which forms part of the Government's $6.2 billion green car plan.

Mr Bracks said the aim was for him and Mr Conomos to open doors, and provide intelligence back to government and industry. Mr Bracks, who chaired the Government's review into the Australian car industry, will travel to the US later this year.

"We must position ourselves for when world demand increases, to present our case strongly. The issue is demand. Demand is low, people aren't changing over vehicles," he said.

Mr Bracks said a more sustainable vehicle was the way of the future. He welcomed the visit to Australia of electric car entrepreneur Shai Agassi.

"The electric car is very important. We are going to see probably the biggest revolution in automotive since the internal combustion engine was produced. The next 15 years will see profound changes," he said.

"We're looking at transition arrangements — diesel and hybrids. We'll be looking at various fuel-efficient, light-weight vehicles. Electric vehicles will be part of the mix, no doubt."

Mr Bracks said to survive, Australian component makers had to get bigger and market internationally, as well as to the three domestic producers.

"We must find markets for them and they must be big and effective enough to supply those markets," he said.

Mr Conomos said that China was an emerging market. "There are opportunities to promote exports of technology and high-tech components," he said.