When Australia loses manufacturing industry it is analogous to a body losing muscle. For a while, one can rely on wheelchairs and the kindness of strangers, but in a crisis - and we look like we're heading for one - we need our muscle to survive. That's why the government must continue to support manufact5uring as well as mining, tourism, etc.

It is worth noting Tony Abbott is on record.
Not supporting the car industries.
The steel industry.
He not government is intent on both cutting subsidy's and not supporting manufacturing.

is this about govt funding multinationals?
if so install back a tarrif..industry by industry

heck if you wanna weave buggy whips
make the best buggy whips in the world
why should other non buggy whip taxes support you

Belly what do you call the CO2 tax which no other country of consequence is implementing? Labor will be the death nell of Manufacturing.

Does Wayne Swan not want successful people to publicly contradict the Government?

Does he only want unsuccessful people to voice an opinion on Government policies?

But ... nobody would listen to them.

Ah: that's what Wayne Swan wants!