The federal government has nowhere to hide over aid to Holden now that the company's boss has "kicked to death" reports it has already decided to axe local production, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says.
He's also taken a swipe at unnamed federal government figures who suggested last week that Holden had already made the decision to close its assembly operations.
Describing them as "gutless", he says they should now "shut up" and get behind the push to save the car maker.
His comments came after Holden boss Mike Devereux told the Productivity Commission on Tuesday that no decision to pull out of Australia had been made and the company still wanted to build cars in Australia, provided it received ongoing support.
"That's the demand, it's been made absolutely clear and there is now nowhere to hide for the federal government," Mr Weatherill told reporters.
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"Mr Devereux has given the clearest of possible indication that Holden is not going to close and they want to continue making cars in Australia."
Mr Weatherill said comments about Holden's future from some sections of the federal government were only serving to undermine efforts to save the company.
"Mr Devereux has just kicked that to death. He has said they have not made a decision to close," the premier said.
