South Australia’s largest welfare agency says Holden’s decision to close its car plants will have a dramatic effect on families.”

“The closure of Holden will have a devastating impact on the local community”, Peter Sandeman CEO of Anglicare SA told Eternity.

This week Holden announced it will cease car production in Australia by the end of 2017. The decision will affect up to 3,000 jobs at its Port Melbourne plant and engineering centre, as well as factory workers in Adelaide.

“It’s more than the end of manufacturing in the area [of Adelaide]. It’s the loss of job opportunities for young people growing up in the north. It’s the death of hope and a vote of no confidence for the area,” says Peter.

“This is not only an economic blow, it’s a cultural and spiritual blow.

“It will be hard for the community to hold on to hope, particularly at Christmas when hope is so important – we’ve been dealt a cruel blow.”

Anglicare predicts increases in:

• Unemployment rates
• Financial hardship
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Gambling- as a way of escape
• Relationship  breakdowns
• Domestic violence
• Homelessness
• Truancy
• Depression and mental illness.

Despite the huge impact it will have, Peter says there are some good things about the announcement.

“It’s an end to the uncertainty and it now allows people to really plan for the future,” says Sandeman. “We also know that people from the northern suburbs [of Adelaide] have grit, determination and a fighting spirit- all qualities they and all of us in SA will need to harness. Now is the time for the entire community to come together, dig deep and support each other.”

By 2018, Toyota will be the only remaining car manufacturer in Australia after Ford announced earlier this year it would be closing its Melbourne and Geelong operations in 2016.

Image by Cheetah100 via flickr under CC Licence