Prior to 1996 The Button Plan diverted the revenue from auto tariffs back to the local manufacturers but as the tariffs were progressively dropped the taxpayer the taxpayer was left fully on the hook..
It was quite ironic that the 3 major beneficiaries of these manufacturing subsidies were themselves the major importers who were competing with their own locally manufactured units. Hockey/Abbott quickly realised this and snuffed out the subsidies and it was bye bye Toyota, Holden (GM) and Ford 3 years later
