Comment from Kim Carr - Auto industry woes

[bobthebilda]

=Road_Warrior;4694760]A bit of context, by Remy Davison.
However, as Kim Carr noted recently, the industry, cumulatively, received subsidies amounting to less than $18 per person over the last decade. So it cost you, the long-suffering Australian taxpayer, the princely sum of $1.80 per annum to prevent the collapse of plants like Elizabeth, Fishermans Bend, Altona, Geelong and Broadmeadows

I assume, neither Kim Carr or Remy Davison have a PhD in mathmematics (or basic knowledge). Reports over the last week have revealed Holden, Ford and Toyota have received approx. $4 billion over the last 12 years. $4 billion / 12 years / 22 million people = the sum of $15.15 per year per person (not the $1.80 as stated above). And thats what they got. For every dollar that Holden, Toyota or Ford got, their suppliers got alot of money too. It would probably be around $50 per person per annum.

Then people start making comparisons to other countries - and they tend to use different comparisons. They include US money that was given to GM to bail it out (the US took an equity stake in GM, it wasnt money thrown at GM never to get a return (altho they got less than put in)). They include German states equity in BMW etc (once again an equity stake). If the Governments of Australia had saved all the money they have given to the car companies over the last 12 years, the government could own approx. 25% of GM right now. Thus instead of being in charge of a 220,000 per year car industry, they could be in control of 25% of GM's 8 million cars they make each year (2 million cars).

And they make other comparisons, but they make it on a per capita basis, and not a cars made per year per person. Australia makes 220,000 cars a year, with a population of 22 million. The US makes 40 times more cars a year, with 15 times the population. Japan makes 40 times more cars each year, with 6 times the population.

Didnt Kim Carr recently lose his position in the ministry because he and his team couldnt get the numbers right lol