Robots will replace Holden workers, union predicts

Even if Holden continues manufacturing cars in Australia, most - if not all - of the work will be done by robots, a union official has predicted.

“Eventually, it will be the situation where there’ll be no workers on the production line,” Manufacturing Workers Union official John Camillo told ABC News. “It’ll be done by robots.”

Camillo says the Australian Government should be preparing a Plan B for when - or if - the company ceases manufacturing in Australia.

“We need to be on the front foot; have a Plan A to keep Holden here for a 10-year period and [have] a Plan B. If Holden decides to close, let’s not wait until 2016 [to consider the future],” Camillo said.

ABC reports that manufacturing expert Professor Goran Roos is drawing up contingency plans based on the assumption that Holden will continue manufacturing at its Elizabeth plant in northern Adelaide for the next decade only. Professor Roos is drafting the plans at the request of unions, with Holden’s agreement.