Senator LUNDY (Australian Capital Territory—Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Sport) (14:44): I am very happy to do that. We know the opposition is all over the place on this issue and it is creating huge uncertainty in the auto sector. The Labor government knows that the automotive manufacturing industry is an integral part of our economy. It pays the wages for about 250,000 Australians directly and in related manufacturing and service industries. It is a cornerstone of the wider manufacturing sector, which employs around one million Australians. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senators Ryan and Wong, it does not help me to hear the answer when you are continually interjecting across the chamber. Order on both sides! Senator LUNDY: I am trying to answer a very serious question but given the puerile nature of interjections from the opposition it makes it very difficult. As I was saying, there are one million Australians whose jobs are at stake and the opposition is putting those jobs at risk by failing to support a bipartisan approach to our new car plan for the Australian automotive sector. As recently as September, the coalition said they did not support the Gillard government's assistance to Ford and Holden. Now they say they might, but they will not commit. They could commit today if they really wanted to. (Time expired)