Holden boss to be roasted live online

The boss of General Motors Holden Kristian Aquilina, who announced the brand’s axing last February, will face a grilling from a Senate committee on Monday.

And you can watch it live on the web.

Aquilina heads a Holden delegation that will appear at a Senate Education and Employment References Committee hearing into the company’s operations in Australia.

The inquiry was called after the closure of Holden was announced. It was originally intended to report its findings in May, but that has now been extended to November because of the coronavirus.

“General Motors’ decision in February to withdraw the Holden brand from Australia is having a significant impact on the livelihoods of workers and franchisees across the country,” the committee chair, Labor senator Louise Pratt, told carsales in an emailed statement.

“The inquiry into GM’s decision and the related impacts will hold a hearing on Monday and will explore a range of issues including the manner in which Holden is managing its withdrawal and what the flow on effects will be to Holden vehicle owners, dealers and workers.

“Some of the media reports have raised concerns that the committee will explore as it hears from a range of witnesses including Holden.”

Aquilina will appear before the committee at 11:20am. The rest of the Holden delegation will be made up of its government relations and public policy director David Magill, sales director Michael Jackson and chief financial officer Russell Dmytrenko.

The proceedings will be streamed on the Australian Parliament House website. Because of the coronavirus most witnesses will appear via video link.

While Aquilina’s appearance will undoubtedly be the focus of the hearing, 12 other individuals and bodies will give evidence before the committee.

First up will be the Australian Holden Dealer Council (AHDC), which will give its evidence in-camera.

The AHDC fought a bitter but ultimately fruitless battle with GM Holden to improve its compensation offer to dealers. More than 120 of 185 dealers accepted the offer on June 30 and the hold-outs have continued to shrink in number since.

Other witnesses include the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which continues to investigate the way GMH managed its compensation negotiations with its dealers.

Representative of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), the Department of Education, skills and employment and the Department of industry, science, energy and resources are also expected to appear.

The former Holden executive and HSV boss John Crennan will also appear as a witness.

The terms of reference of the inquiry into Holden’s departure include:

a. The impacts of that decision on:
i. Holden employees,
ii. The Holden dealership network (small and medium sized businesses and family enterprises, and their employees),
iii. The Holden research and development facilities, and
iv. Owners of Holden vehicles (including service and repair);

b. The role of the Franchise Code and the Government’s proposed dealership amendments to the Franchise Code;

c. Government or other policy settings on manufacturing, research and development, business support and transition, and employee support; and

d. Any related matters.