....We lead the world in moulded carbon fibre production

Rhosty, is that 'manufacturing' or 'development' as there is a huge difference.

I remember talking to a guy who ran the floor at TJM, a 4x4 accessory place in out Brisbane.

He said they once had 60 on the floor working flat out to meet demand.

Now, theynhave just TWO, they design and perfect a prototype then have them manufactured in China.

There are also some boat builders that have done just that. Knoble being one such case, as to manufacture here, in outer Brisbane, became finacially unviable.

As for your engine suggestion, most good ideas get bought out and shut down by the energy sector.

If they don't, where do you propose the replacement jobs will come from?

Rhian, ....I’m not surprised someone from the IPA did not identify which industries would thrive without government intervention. The whole point, from their perspective, is that no single individual or government bureaucrat can know what will work and what won’t. Competition and innovation will give us answers we can’t even imagine.

I beg to differ, as many business people have to make life changing choices, or face loosing more than just their jobs.

Anyone who has run a successful business pretty much knew the last splash at the car industry was a waste of money. In fact, if you check my post history you will find I said exactly that.

Yabby, it's my understanding that the only viable coal mines we have are this who produce at least 40% coking coal, as thermal coal sells for less than production costs.

Once Mongolia and Russia come on line, our industry will likely fall.

So labor's answer is to tax them twice.

Real smart

Rhrosty you do realize that most early missionaries die a horrible death.

Those that follow do have some chance of survival, & those who come along later & pick up the pieces will do the best.

Any large manufacturer going into carbon fiber before much more is proven WILL go broke. Fuel cells ditto. You don't need very much in warranty claims to send you broke, & going off half cocked, into any new technology is bound to lead to bankruptcy.

We built & displayed a thermoplastic car back in the 60s. This was built by a division of Borg Warner, a very well known, & very experienced auto components company. We could not sort all the problems.

Collin Chapman of Lotus fame tried thermoset plastics too, in production. It worked for a small usage sports car, for a short life. It did cost them a great deal in warranty claims

GM & Nissan are loosing a fortune on their electric cars, even with huge subsidizes. At the present moment, getting rid of all the bull droppings & going back to an FJ Holden would be a better idea.

Rhian, even my V8 powered 330BHP convertible does not burn very much more fuel than my Ladies Mazda 2. It does the shopping run beautifully, & does not bore the tripe out of me. Those poor souls doing high mileage are probably stuck with a small box on wheels. Thank god I'm not one.

When I can't afford the fuel, I'll take a horse before I'll drive a volt or some such horror.

The de-industrialisation of Aust was planned back in 1968 with the beginnings of Agenda 21.

All the major parties including the Greens signed off of this program.Now they are attacking the farmers with water and land restrictions under the guise of saving mother Earth.It has been a littany of lies from the spectrum of terrorism, GFC and CO2 causing global warming. Just google Senator Ann Bressington one of our senators who at first was incredulus to this plan but now realises we don't have much time left.

If we don't wake up soon,we will be serfs to a corporate world that will make our lives a total misery.

Arjay - If we don't wake up soon,we will be serfs to a corporate world that will make our lives a total misery.

I have no doubt thats the intention, however the odds favour a major financial re-adjustment, most probably before the corporates realize their ambition, although its possible the corporate world could lurch on for a short time. Whatever, the untold avarice displayed by big-business will undoubtedly lead to its own undoing. Some of us, albeit precious few, 'woke up' years ago but convincing the sheeple there are more important things in life than footbrawl, thugby & Home and Away, is effectively impossible.

The Australian car industry has been a basket case for over forty years drawing ever growing government subsidies to keep it going. As has been pointed out the sales of Holden and Ford have been artificially inflated by Government diktat. If the supply of Government vehicles for MPs transport had been put out to tender they would all have been arriving at Parliament in Toyotas (probably one of the Lexus range) years ago. If the production capacity is low then find a niche market to exploit! You don't even have to be too inventive.

The Norwegian arms industry is a case in point, three billion dollars of exports last year alone. The main product, a remotely controlled 100 year old .5 inch machine gun which can be fitted to almost any Military vehicle.

In addition, Norway's Statoil is now a world wide exploration company, which in addition continues to find oil and gas in the Northern seas.

Jon R - In addition, Norway's Statoil is now a world wide exploration company, which in addition continues to find oil and gas in the Northern seas.

There are two major differences, firstly Norway isn't hamstrung by the utterly inept self-serving bloodsucking parasites endemic to the Australian political circus, and secondly the country isn't home to the most apathetic sheeple on planet earth. Maybe the lack of footbrawl, thugby & Home and Away helps.