Re: Riddle me this, Batman..... hahaha
I think there is a move away from car manufacturing, and a move into other manufacturing, such as value added products to resource industries, and renewable energy infrastructure and products. The manufacturing industry as well as other industries, must change to suit the global economic changes. We no longer live in the 1950's and the changes to the Australian economy itself, and our relationship with the global economy, must change or die.
Australia has weathered the GFC extremely well, because of good government policy, both past and present, and a willingness of the people to accept change, both economic and political.
"Australia does manufacture cars, and they have the same problems with imports that the USA does"
I am aware that Australia manufactures cars, but I said there were no Australian owned car manufacturers, none of the manufacturers that you mentioned are Australian owned. People will buy what they can afford, if people can get a cheaper, more fuel efficient car from Korea, China, or Japan, they will. American cars are also imported into Australia, they are not popular because they are not very fuel efficient, and the quality is no better than cars imported from elsewhere. If a company does not supply what people want, they wont last.
spud