Labor attacks govt on Toyota in parliament

The federal opposition has challenged the government's stance on Toyota and car manufacturing during question time.

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Toyota's decision to stop building cars in Australia has been the focus of the first question time of the year in federal parliament.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten challenged Prime Minister Tony Abbott over comments he made before the election, in which he said any government that makes it harder for car makers was making it harder for Australia to be a first-world economy.

"Given Toyota's announcement yesterday, does the prime minister agree that by his own test it means Australia will no longer be a sophisticated economy?" Mr Shorten asked.

LISTEN: Hurdles for Abbott in new parliamentary session

Mr Abbott said the government wasn't interested in playing blame games and that Toyota workers had a good future.

"I accept that there is a shadow in parliament today cast by the decision by Toyota," he said.

"But that announcement should not obscure the fundamental strengths of our economy."

The first question from the government's side was about the coalition's economic credentials.

Mr Abbott said the government will use infrastructure building to help find Toyota workers jobs in the future.

He said supporting business and the private sector would help create jobs, not governments.

"Government doesn't create prosperity, profitable business create prosperity."


2 min read

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Source: AAP


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