PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."

PREMIER John Brumby has called for a freeze on car industry tariff cuts.

As Toyota warns that its local operations are under threat because of the soaring Australian dollar, Mr Brumby said the State Government had long held the view that there should be no more tariff cuts beyond 2010, unless Australia's main trading partners were making similar cuts to their tariff barriers.

"The reality is that our trading partners aren't making the same significant reductions in tariffs," he said, echoing comments by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Brumby said Australia's car industry — concentrated in Victoria and South Australia — had already made "enormous adjustments", but was under increasing pressure from competitors in the Asia-Pacific area.

"I've always been a person who has wanted to open Australia up to trade," he said.

"We've got one of the most open trading regimes anywhere in the world.

"But it's not an unreasonable thing to freeze tariffs at 2010. That's always been the Labor Government's position in Victoria.

"I think it makes sense and I think it would provide a degree of security and comfort to our car manufacturers, who are finding it very, very difficult to compete, particularly with the dollar at the levels it's already at."