Abbott rolls out manufacturing policy

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says a coalition government won't be writing "blank cheques" for the car industry, but will support Australia's manufacturing industry.

Mr Abbott visited a Volvo Group plant in Brisbane to announce the coalition's manufacturing policy.

"I want Australia to be a country that makes things," he said on Wednesday.

He said the repeal of the carbon and mining taxes, a company tax cut, cuts to regulation, road building and workplace law reform would benefit manufacturers.

A coalition government would also appoint a trade and investment minister, provide an initial $50 million in export market development grants and put $50 million into a manufacturing transition fund.

Asked if a coalition government would provide more money to Holden and Toyota, the opposition leader said: "Let's cross those bridges if and when we get there."

"What we aren't going to do ... is run down the road after Holden waving a blank cheque at them," Mr Abbott said.

"That is not a sensible way for an adult government to behave, but we are happy to sit down with them."

Mr Abbott said the car industry had flourished under the Howard coalition government.

"We have a good record when it comes to working with the car manufacturers," he said.

"We will act in that same spirit in the future."

Opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said while Labor had increased car sector spending, it had failed to stem job losses and manufacturing plant closures.

The government had also damaged the industry through "surprise policies and broken promises", such as the carbon tax and changes to fringe benefits tax compliance arrangements.

"It's not just about an amount of money - it is about ensuring that the rules and benchmarks for funding the car sector are sustainable and aimed at long-term viability for the sector," she said.

The coalition's policy statement said the total cost of its package was $100 million but did not say how it would be funded.