The federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey, said his government has business credentials and operates in that way. I can tell the house that if his government was a publicly listed business, he would be charged by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and called to account for his reckless abandonment by his shareholders and constituents over the mismanagement of the Holden affair. I, along with vehicle workers in this state, charge the Liberal Party and its governments in Canberra and Victoria with gross negligence in respect of the vehicle industry in this country. The charges relate to doing nothing to ensure that Holden remains in this country. The charges relate to simply not wanting a car industry in this country.
Honourable members interjecting.
The PRESIDENT — Order! I ask the member to stop her contribution. This is a particularly sensitive issue. We are all very upset about the decision that has been made. I understand why people are concerned, and I certainly recognise that Ms Tierney has taken a very provocative line in her 90-second statement, but nonetheless I have the view that in their 90-second statements members ought to have the opportunity to be heard.
Ms TIERNEY — The charges relate to undermining the Victorian economy. The charges relate to the government publicly goading Holden into making a decision about its future in advance of the timetable it even set itself through the Productivity Commission. The charges relate to crucifying thousands of workers and their families in the industry. The charges relate to killing off blue-collar jobs for manufacturing workers. The charges relate to assassinating 800 engineering jobs, leaving the workers nowhere to go. The charges relate to not having a jobs plan. The charges relate to adopting a policy approach that, put simply, now places other jobs in other companies in severe jeopardy.
The charges relate to ensuring that vehicle workers and their families in Victoria and South Australia will not have a stress-free Christmas. This amounts to nothing short of criminal neglect. These charges will be addressed, and the government will be sentenced in November next year.