Falcon and Commodore 'gone by 2016'

The 2012 Holden Commodore LPG Berlina. Source: Supplied

• Holden will continue to manufacture cars to at least 2022
• Ford likely to shut its factories by the end of 2016
• Holden reviewing small- and medium-car plans, considering SUV
• The Punch: A race to the finish?

THE clash of the titans is over. Ford's Falcon and Holden's Commodore will likely be phased out within months of each other in 2016.

Ford has said for some time the future of the Falcon and its Broadmeadows manufacturing facility are not guaranteed beyond the end of 2016. Overnight at the Detroit motor show, Holden inadvertently confirmed the Commodore's run is due to come to an end about the same time.

The moves will mark the end of an iconic battle that has lasted more than half a century

The revelation comes a day after Holden admitted that the jobs of the 320 workers at its Port Melbourne V6 engine plant are in jeopardy beyond the end of 2016 as car buyers around the world shift to four-cylinder cars.

In an interview with Australian journalists the boss of Holden Mike Devereux said: "VF (Commodore) will run through to the end of 2016. We have a current plan to put a second (vehicle type) into the plant before 2017."

Send us pictures of your favourite Falcon or Commodore

News Limited understands Holden has started plans to build a medium-size, four-cylinder, front-drive car alongside the next generation Holden Cruze from 2017.

But given the continuing strong growth in sales of SUVs, which are now the second biggest market in Australia, Holden said it may re-evaluate its position.

"We have a plan that we signed with the government of Australia that does define two architectures (vehicle types). Could we change the second one if things continue to change? Yes we could."

But Devereux would not confirm or speculate on what the second vehicle would be alongside the Cruze.

"VF (Commodore) will run into 2016 and if I had my druthers, I wouldn't want anyone knowing or having an inkling over what that second architecture was until almost the end of VF production," he said.He said the contract that Holden signed with the government in April 2012 could be amended to build another type of car - providing it meant it would sell in higher numbers.

Take a look at 50 years of Mount Panorama winners

"If we did change what we're going to build the only reason we'd be changing it is because we thought we could (sell) more," Devereux said. "I think the Prime Minister and the Industry Minister of Australia, if we had a better plan, would certainly want to look at a better plan."

This classic car ad celebrates all that is Australian according to Holden; football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars!

Devereux said Holden was re-evaluating SUVs after their record growth last year; they now represent about one-third of new-car sales - but, significantly, none are among the top 10 sellers.

"We're taking a look at and making sure we don't make the wrong decision," Devereux said. "(But) there is not an intention to change.

"If you asked me a year ago if (sales of) SUVs would go up 27 per cent, I would have been surprised by that level of growth. But the challenge with an SUV is that there are so many of them."

He said Holden had to pick "two winners". "They've got to be Top 10. There isn't any room to pick an entry that isn't a top-selling, well-loved vehicle in Australia. It's high stakes no question."

The 2012 Ford Falcon Ecoboost sedan.

There may be one silver lining on Holden's cloud. If the Australian dollar weakens and demand for the Holden-made US police car increases, it has room at the factory to continue to build the Caprice limousine and Holden Commodore ute alongside the two other models.

But Holden says it has not yet explored this option and it is not part of the current plan.

Ford has not revealed its plans beyond 2016 however it has all but run out of options.

It has already ruled out a small car, an SUV and a ute - vehicles which would compete in the three biggest market segments in Australia, but come to Ford from factories in Thailand.

Classic Aussie commercial for the classic Aussie car- the Ford Falcon

Another type of locally made Ford vehicle that could be exported is highly unlikely given the sustained strength of the Australian dollar.

Parts suppliers in Australia believe Ford will close its manufacturing operations at the end of 2016 because they have not been asked to quote on future models.

Late last year Ford shut three long-standing factories in the United Kingdom and Europe as it matches falling demand there. It also shed thousands of jobs and up to 17 factories in the United States after the Great Financial Crisis.

In 2012 - a record sales year - Ford Australia produced its lowest annual output since Broadmeadows opened in 1960.

Holden and Ford fans fly the flags for their cultural icons at Bathurst. Picture: Brad Hunter

V8 Supercar fans fear not. The racing series changed its rules from this year to allow any sedan to compete, even if it is not available in showrooms with a V8 engine, or even sold as a rear-wheel-drive car.

The "silhouette" formula that has been adopted means that the racing mechanicals are identical but the cars run different bodies, as in the US Nascar series.

Nissan has joined the V8 Supercar series this year even though the sedan it sells in showrooms in a V6 front-drive car.

Ford and Holden may continue to race sedans in V8 Supercars beyond 2016, even if they're not Falcons or Commodores.
 

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

2012 Holden Cruze SRi-V hatch.

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Facebook fears for teenage girls

Maddy Capoccia shares a Facebook account with her family, including her mother Lisa, and they've talked about the dangers of social media. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: The Advertiser

• ARE YOU A PARENT: Do you have concerns?

FACEBOOK pages devoted to provocative images of teenage girls are fuelling the sexualisation of young people, a leading child safety expert warns.

A number of South Australian-based pages have emerged featuring pictures of girls in suggestive poses or in provocative clothes, and include comments "rating" the teenagers pictured.

UniSA emeritus professor Freda Briggs was concerned that many of the young people on the pages were unaware of the possible consequences of putting their images online.

She said the pages were an example of the growing "sexualisation" of young people, especially girls.

"Girls in particular put themselves at risk in social media," she said.

"It's a peer group expectation and girls are being encouraged to be sexy.

"It's sexualisation from an early age."

Prof Biggs said the pages also demonstrated the need for parents to discuss appropriate online behaviour with their children.

"Parents are often unaware of the risks," she said.

"But they need to keep an eye on what young people are putting on Facebook and discuss it with them."

The Advertiser  has chosen not to publish the names of the pages.

Professor Briggs said teenagers were often more internet savvy than their parents, making it hard for them to keep tabs on what their children were doing online.

She said this was disturbing, as a number of international studies suggested a large proportion of teenagers have posted personal information about themselves in publicly accessible websites or have been the subject of approaches from people online.

A South Australia Police spokesman said there were hundreds of similar pages on Facebook and there was little police could do.

Maddy Capoccia, 16, of Felixstow, was aware of the Facebook pages but said they were just attention-seeking.

"You you might get a boost to your confidence, but there are other ways to get noticed," she said.

Her parents, Lisa and George Capoccia, monitor the Facebook use of Maddy and her sister Sophie, 11.

"George set up an account so we can see what the teenagers are doing. We let Sophie use it for an hour a night," Mrs Capoccia said.

"We also talk to the girls about the dangers involved with social media, explaining how some people pretend to be your age.

"I worry about them using social media because young kids are easy prey, but in saying that, we trust them."

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End of the road for our titans

Jordyn and sister Taeylor help polish their Holden-loving father David Feast's 1981 VH Commodore. Picture: DYLAN COKERr Source: adelaidenow

THE cars that have shaped and divided a nation over more than three decades are headed for the big carpark in the sky.

The Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore are almost certain to be phased out within months of each other at the end of 2016

, marking the end of a battle that for many Australians started in the schoolyard fighting for the honour of the family car.

But those times are well behind us. We might have a soft spot for the "red" or the "blue" corner, but we're not buying locally made cars from those brands like the good old days.

Thanks to the strong Australian dollar we've been gorging ourselves on sharper-priced and better-equipped imported cars that better suit our needs and congested cities.

The shift away from the Falcon and Commodore is not a shock to industry observers. As tragic as the consequences will be for those in the manufacturing workforce, many of us are relieved that someone has finally ripped off the Band-Aid so we can allow the wound to heal.

The sales figures tell the grim reality. Falcon and Commodore deliveries are at record lows in an all-time record new-car market.

Even the government, which has invested billions of taxpayer dollars in local manufacturing over the decades, isn't buying Falcons and Commodores in the numbers it used to.

Holden has committed to manufacturing cars until 2022 after securing $275 million taxpayer dollars in April 2012. Critically, it did not say what type of car it would build alongside the Cruze, leaving open the possibility it could be a Commodore.

Dick Johnson's Ford XD Falcon leads Peter Brock's Holden Commodore at Bathurst in 1980.

Yesterday at the Detroit motor show, Holden inadvertently confirmed the Commodore's run is due to come to an end in late 2016, the same horizon Ford has previously given for the Falcon.

In an interview with Australian journalists, the boss of Holden Mike Devereux said: "VF (Commodore) will run through to the end of 2016. We have a current plan to put a second (vehicle type) into the plant before 2017."

The revelation came a day after Holden admitted that the jobs of the 320 workers at its Port Melbourne V6 engine plant are in jeopardy beyond the end of 2016 as car buyers around the world shift to four-cylinder cars.

Most of the V6 engines Holden makes are exported and there is dwindling demand for them. The demise of Commodore would be the final straw.

It would cost more than $300 million to upgrade the Holden engine factory to assemble four-cylinder engines but it would be far cheaper to shut the factory and import them. Holden already imports four-cylinder engines for the Cruze.

The Advertiser understands Holden has started plans to build a medium-size, four-cylinder, front-drive car alongside the next generation Holden Cruze from 2017.

But given the continuing strong growth in sales of 4WDs, which are now the second biggest market in Australia, Holden said it may re-evaluate its position.

Holden workers who spoke to The Advertiser on the condition of anonymity were less concerned with what car Holden would build after the Commodore and more concerned about gainful employment.

"It doesn't matter too much to me what we build here, as long as we keep building something and keep our jobs," said one factory worker at the Elizabeth car-making operations.

"We're a bit over all the speculation about the future out here, this sort of stuff has been going on for a long time and we just want to get on with doing the job," said another.

Mr Devereux said Holden was considering an SUV after their record growth last year; they now represent about one-third of new-car sales. But, significantly, none is among the top 10 sellers.

"We're taking a look at (but) there is not an intention to change," he said. "The challenge with an SUV is that there are so many of them."

Holden must pick "two winners".

"They've got to be Top 10. There isn't any room to pick an entry that isn't a top-selling, well-loved vehicle in Australia. It's high stakes no question," Mr Devereux said.

FORD executives in Australia and Detroit have said for some time the future of the Falcon and its Broadmeadows manufacturing facility are not guaranteed beyond the end of 2016.

Ford Australia's director of public affairs Sinead Phipps says: "I can absolutely guarantee no decision has been made (to cease production in Australia). But, she admits, "the business after 2016 is under review".

Ford's global boss Alan Mulally is now so tired of being pestered on the issue he refuses to allocate interview time to Australian journalists.

In the media scrum at Detroit, Mulally told The Advertiser "we will continue to evaluate" the Broadmeadows operations. It was the same answer last time we asked.

But Ford isn't fooling anyone. Broadmeadows produced fewer cars last year than it did in 1960.

Ford fanatics may cry foul at the media reports. But Ford itself has turned away every viable option.

Ford has so far ruled out building locally a small car, a heavy-duty ute and a seven-seater SUV, the three biggest market segments in Australia to replace the Falcon and Territory.

Why would Ford build their global successors in Australia when no-one is buying the cars in sufficient numbers locally and when the strong dollar evaporates any profit?

Parts suppliers in Australia believe Ford will close its manufacturing operations at the end of 2016 because they have not been asked to quote on future models.

Furthermore, Ford has not asked for federal or state government funding for a manufacturing program beyond 2016. The big wheels of the car industry turn slowly and have long lead times. If Ford were building anything locally beyond its previously state 2016 deadline, the paperwork would have been signed more than a year ago.

Ford is brutally pragmatic when it comes to closing factories.

Late last year Ford shut three factories with long-standing history in the United Kingdom and Europe as it matches falling demand there. It also shed thousands of jobs and up to 17 factories in the US after the Global Financial Crisis.

There are other worrying signs. Ford posted its biggest recorded financial loss last year, $290 million, after modest profits of $13 million in 2009 and $26 million in 2010. In the same financial period, Holden's profit was exactly the same amount as what it received in taxpayer money: $89.7 million.

- with Stuart Martin

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Cops know who killed bikie boss

Police say the shooting of a Hells Angel bikie at his Sydney transport company was a 'brazen execution'.

Shot dead ... Hells Angels bikie leader Zeljiko Mitrovic, with wife Suzana. Source: The Daily Telegraph

POLICE know the identities of several men involved in the execution of a senior Hells Angel bikie and are preparing to question them.

Zeljko "Steven" Mitrovic, 45, was shot dead at his Dynamic Transport business on Hassall St, Wetherill Park, after a heated confrontation with up to seven men at 3.50pm on Tuesday.

Detectives say that, after an initial exchange in the company yard, three men followed Mr Mitrovic to his first-floor office, where there was another row - in which shots were fired.

Another worker, aged 31, was shot in the right arm, though police believe he was not a target and has no gang links.

A senior police source confirmed the identity of at least one person in the melee had been established. Once found, that person would be questioned. Detectives are now creating a vast personal and financial profile of Mr Mitrovic's life, including his many business and company interests, believed to be at the heart of the conflict.

They do not believe the murder was bikie-related.

Mr Mitrovic and wife Suzana were due to appear in the Sydney District Court today in a civil suit against a man whose dog allegedly bit their son.

Legal sources said the case was not related to the shooting.

Mr Mitrovic, who was jailed over a double murder in 1998, was a member of a new Hells Angels chapter in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

He was instrumental in establishing the new clubhouse with fellow senior Hells Angels member Peter Sidirourgos, 39, police sources confirmed.

Mr Mitrovic had an extensive network of friends in the Bandidos outlaw bikie gang and is believed to have "patched over" several years ago.

His brother-in-law, Sasha Milenkovic, the Bandidos national sergeant-at-arms, was murdered in 1997, along with two others, in a Chippendale nightclub basement.

After Milenkovic's assailants were found guilty, Mr Mitrovic's wife, Suzana, told reporters: "Losing a loved one in an execution, cold-blooded murder, it's very hard to move forward but ... we have no choice."

Yesterday, family and friends gathered at the Mitrovic home where Mrs Mitrovic was said to be heartbroken and struggling. "She's really not in a good shape at the moment," a relative said. One underworld figure and long-time friend of the murdered man said Mr Mitrovic "was a bloke that never did anything wrong - he was a bit of a standover man but he only helped do a bit of mediation work."

The friend added: "He was the kind of guy who said wrong's wrong and right's right - but still a good f ... ing bloke."

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Job hunters face tougher market

With jobless numbers set to rise, job seekers face a tougher market in the search for work. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE number of unemployed will soar by almost 10 per cent with around 60,000 extra people joining the ranks of the jobless over the next six months as companies slash costs and lay-off staff.

Union leaders yesterday said this is a "make or break" year for Australian workers with concerns growing that thousands of construction sector may lose their job as building industry stalls.

This bleak outlook comes as Boral, Bluescope and Vodafone announce lay-offs as they struggle to remain competitive against an uncertain global backdrop.

And there is growing speculation that some of the country's blue chip companies are also looking at redundancies later in the year.

The official unemployment rate for December - to be released today is tipped to jump from 5.2 per cent to 5.4 per cent.

But ANZ head of Australian economics Justin Fabo expects things will get worse before they start to get better with the unemployment rate tipped to peak at 5.75 per cent around mid-year.

This would result in the number of unemployed people jumping from its current level of 637,000 to almost 700,000 jobless - a rise of almost 10 per cent.

"In the near-term things don't look good with job ads falling for the 10th consecutive month," he said.

But Mr Fabo is upbeat the economy will begin to turn the corner by late 2013.

Experts said the increase in the unemployment rate is a result of two factors - job lay-offs and the inability of companies to create jobs to keep pace with population growth.

The bright side of the surge in unemployment is that it may push official interest rates from their current 3 per cent level to a record low of 2 per cent, according to the ANZ forecasts.

This would lower repayments on the average $300,000 mortgage by around $200 a month.

The workers facing the most pressure continue to be in sectors that are being smashed by the strong Australian dollar - manufacturing and retail - and also the public sector with state and federal governments trimming their budgets.

The Australian Workers Union Victorian boss Cesar Melhem yesterday warned up to "10,000 jobs potentially in the construction and construction related industry" are in jeopardy as growth stalls.

Acting Employment Minister Kate Ellis yesterday said the Commonwealth is ready to support workers and their families affected by the 700 job cuts made by Boral.

"Our first thoughts are with affected workers and their families who will be feeling very anxious and uncertain at this time," Ms Ellis said.

"The Government stands ready to provide support to assist affected workers."

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Author addresses Aussie optimism

William McInnes walks his dogs Delilah and Raymond on the Mornington Peninsula. Picture: Jason Sammon Source: Herald Sun

OPTIMISM and opportunity are two of the new pillars of Australian society, actor and author William McInnes will espouse in his Australia Day address tonight.

While writing the speech at his family's beachside home yesterday, McInnes said he would move away from cliches such as cork hats and Vegemite as he addressed the changing nature of the nation.

"I think Australians come in all shapes and forms and people like to personify the idea of being Australian and I think we've moved a bit beyond that . . . we're an evolving society," McInnes said.

He said being an Aussie came with great responsibility, not entitlement.

"I think this country is at its best when it offers opportunity because it enriches itself and becomes wealthier and stronger," he said.

The speech would be light-hearted and touch on the best of Australia.

He hoped Australians could take a more optimistic view of their country, something politicians could do more.

"There are people in the world today who would look at Australia and just shake their heads in bewilderment at the pessimism that's about from both sides of the political fence.

There were areas of concern, "but ultimately we're a pretty blessed group of people, we live in a pretty wonderful place and we should remind ourselves of that."

McInnes, who is on the Victorian Australia Day committee, will deliver his address at a free public event at Federation Square at 6.30pm.

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Celebration of the best youth sport

Australian Youth Olympic Festival Opening Ceremony at the Sydney Entertainment Centre / Pic: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

Track cyclist Kelsey Robson led the Australian team out for the parade of nations / Pic: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIAN kayakers won gold medals on the water in the morning and organisers last night won accolades for the stunning ceremony that opened the sixth Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

The five-day sporting extravaganza involving 1700 athletes from 30 nations was officially opened at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with cycling sensation Kelsey Robson leading the Australian team into the arena.

Basketballer Lauren Jackson described carrying the flag into the London Olympics as one of the great moments of her life - and two-time world junior champion Robson was just as honoured last night.

"I was really surprised and excited. I was like 'Oh, my God!'," Robson said.

That was a sentiment echoed by rugby sevens player Charlotte Caslick, who read the Olympic Oath.

"My role isn't just on behalf of Australians, it is on behalf of all Olympians, which is special," she said.

Hockeyroo Jordyn Holzberger led a procession of eight torchbearers, and rower Alexander Hill was chosen to light the cauldron.

Holzberger, Hill, Robson and Caslick were the centre of attention in the ceremony, which featured nearly 1000 performers from 80 NSW schools, including aerialists, Pas de Deux dancers, rhythmic gymnasts and a 400-voice choir.

But before the event kicked off last night it was 18-year-old paddlers Bill Baines and Jordan Wood who were stealing the limelight.

Baines claimed the honour of being the first Australian to win a medal at the festival, which has helped to launch some of the biggest names in Australian sport, including hurdles world champion Sally Pearson and cycling star Anna Meares.

The 18-year-old beat teammate Wood in the K1 1000m before the pair combined to win gold together in the K2 kayaking event.

"What a way to start. We are so proud to have won gold," Baines said.

More medals are expected to come Australia's way over the next four days as locals compete against young stars from top sporting nations that include China, the UK and US across 17 sports.

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Rioter: 'Sorry, that's not who I am'

Joesiah Briggs, 18, who was involved in violent scenes at Woodridge on Tuesday. PIC: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

NO ONE was more shocked than Joesiah Briggs at the confronting photograph of himself wielding a weightlifting bar on The Courier-Mail's front page yesterday.

The 18-year-old engineering student says the angry young man pictured on the streets of Woodridge, south of Brisbane, does not reflect who he is and he wants to apologise.

"That was me, but it's not me," he said as calm returned to the suburb yesterday.

"I've been brought up from the day I was born to right now in a Christian home. I regret doing that and I'm sorry."

Joesiah was in Townsville when his parents' Woodridge home was attacked on Saturday night during a dispute with a Tongan family living in the same street.

Days of violence followed until the two warring families finally declared the fight was over yesterday and pledged to repair the damage to the community.

As peace returned, Joesiah said his mother Bronwyn's anguish convinced him of the need to personally apologise for his part in the clashes.

"I was fairly angry with what happened. She said: 'Look, we're going through this, we're stressing out, what do you think the other mothers and fathers are feeling?'

"I felt bad for my family, I felt bad for the (Tongan) boys' family because we know them. It's just not right.

Joseiah Briggs was shocked at the image of him brandishing a metal bar. He has apologised for his behaviour. PIC: Peter Wallis

"I'm sorry to the people that are living in the street that had to put up with it and the mothers and fathers that are worried about their children.

"I'm sorry to the mother and father of those boys."

Confirming he was friends with members of the Tongan family before the fighting, he said the two sides would put the events behind them.

"I grew up in these streets with these boys and played touch footy and we hung out. Every time I'd see one of them we'd stop and have a yarn," he said.

"I just want to make it clear there's no more going on and I'm sorry and ready to settle down and come to a peace."

Helping to defuse the tension, the Briggs family packed up and moved to the Gold Coast yesterday morning.

By the afternoon, there were far fewer officers in Douglas St but police planned to maintain a presence in the area in coming days.

Inspector Dave Nevin said more charges could be laid over the clashes, which tied up police resources for days and terrorised nearby residents.

A Logan City Council van parked in the street filmed the events and police will review the footage.

Social media was one of the biggest contributors to the "ugly" events, he said.

"People were picking up rumours and they became fact but they weren't necessarily truth and they were feeding off that," he said.

"The families that live here . . . they weren't as angry. They wanted to move on."

Incredibly, with a heavy police presence on Tuesday night, five men used a gun to steal a pizza from a man on nearby Station Rd at 10.40pm.

Separately, a 39-year-old man was attacked with bottles and pieces of wood in a carpark off Ewing Rd, Woodridge, at 1.40am yesterday.

Both incidents were believed to be unrelated to the family dispute.

Community leader Paul Butterworth said the truce was brokered after both families met in a carpark between their homes on Tuesday night.

Members of the two families embraced and shared a prayer in the emotional meeting.

"This is the first day of the healing process," Mr Butterworth said.

"We're willing to work together to make that happen.

"This is not going to be a one-off thing. We want to keep this ongoing with the communities, with all the different groups.

"We are going to try. Let's start bringing people together. Let's start creating one community, not different communities.

"When you come into the Logan area we've got 250 different nationalities living in this area and we've got to learn to live all together," he said.

"It doesn't help when we fight against each other."

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