Labor is promising to make the future of automotive workers less bleak with a $59 million assistance package.
But the coalition says the offer is too little, too late.
The money would be used to help workers across the country, especially in Geelong and Adelaide, as car makers pull out of Australia between now and 2017.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the federal boost to existing state government programs is "a very good use of scarce taxpayer funding".
"This money is a very practical difference made to improve the lives of small businesses, and export and manufacturing businesses," he told reporters in Geelong as he campaigned in the safe Labor seat of Corio.
The funding would be used to help businesses retrain workers, buy new equipment, and plug into new supply chains.
Labor estimates up to 200,000 people face a dire future as a result of car manufacturing closures between now and 2017.
"We simply cannot allow so many Australians to be left in the lurch," opposition industry spokesman Kim Carr told ABC radio on Monday.
"We need to be able to work with people to secure blue-collar jobs as well as those that are at the top end of town."
Industry Minister Christopher Pyne welcomed Labor's announcement but said it was "really a Johnny-come-lately approach" given the government has already put programs in place to help these workers.
He highlighted coalition investment in defence manufacturing, innovative jobs and free-trade deals as well as programs for automotive diversification and next-generation manufacturing.
Mr Shorten accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of being "a hollow leader, leading an empty government" with all his talk of jobs and growth.
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