Recently the Federal Government rejected a request for a one off $25 million cash injection into Coca Cola Amatil’s (CCA) SPC Ardmona.
Their justifications for refusing to provide this money seemed plausible enough – Prime Minister Abbott wants to send a very clear message to big business: It is not the government’s responsibility to inject cash into operations owned by wealthy multinationals. Management at Holden witnessed this first hand when their request for investment was similarly rejected in December last year.
Mr Abbott also has faith in SPC Ardmona. He believes that this is a business that can withstand tough economic conditions and still be successful. That the quality of Australian produce is such that consumers will continue to support it into the future.
He then went on to pretty much blame the workers for earning too much and having too generous sick and leave entitlements. Because, you know, factory workers from SPC & A always top out the BRW rich list each year.
But let’s not go there.
You see, I think the Abbott government got this one wrong. Very, very wrong.
CCA were not asking for a handout. They were asking for a $25 million grant from both the Federal and the Victorian Coalition governments, totalling $50 million. With which they were then going to further invest $90 million to transform the Shepparton cannery into a modern and innovative operation, ensuring years of production.