Toyota's decision to stop making cars in Australia is devastating for thousands of automotive workers and an indication that prime minister Tony Abbott has failed to stand up for Australian jobs.
"Tony Abbott must tell Australians why he is not prepared to stand up for local jobs," ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said.
"The Abbott Government goaded Holden into leaving, they've done absolutely nothing to keep Toyota in this country and as a result Australia will lose up to 50,000 direct skilled jobs, $21 billion will be wiped from the economy and regions will go into recession.
"Mr Abbott promised one million new jobs within five years, that's around six hundred new jobs every day but since he's come to office, all we've seen are job losses."
Toyota announced on Monday that it will stop building cars in Australia by the end of 2017, following Holden and Ford out of the country.
Mr Oliver said Mr Abbott's new industry policy is driving jobs out of Australia.
"The loss of the automotive manufacturing industry in Australia will have far reaching consequences around the country and throughout the economy," he said.
