coalition targets car industry handouts

A COALITION government would set rules for carmaker assistance to prevent "waste" of taxpayers' money, opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said today.

Speaking in the wake of the 440 job losses at Ford's Melbourne operations last week, Ms Mirabella said the Coalition would seek to end "ad hoc" financial handouts to the sector.

A Coalition government would engage the Productivity Commission to determine the rules of funding for car industry assistance, Ms Mirabella said.

"I don't think any Australian taxpayer wants to see their money wasted," Ms Mirabella told Sky News's Australian Agenda program.

"That's why we do think as Liberals there is fundamentally a better way. (Government assistance) needs to be transparent and independent of political interference but with clear benchmarks defined to give the industry clarity and to give the taxpayer certainty that they know how, when and why their money is given over to a big company.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has rubbished the use of taxpayer aid for struggling carmakers, putting himself at odds with Tony Abbott on the issue.

He declared on Friday that it was wrong for the government to spend $5.4 billion on aid for carmakers, given the move by Ford this week to sack 440 workers.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalition-targets-car-industry-handouts/story-fn59niix-1226432018302

Im with sloppy,why would any taxpayer of any political persuasion throw money at private ,particularly foreign private enterprise?

This is not good use of public money.

Give em a five year phaseout and Id vote for the liberals,but it wont happen mediocrity breeds contempt.

Raider