The govt is under increasing pressure to reveal how it will help Holden workers and rebuild confidence. Gone: The announcement that Holden is closing has been anticipated for months. Picture: AFP /William West Source: AFP OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten insists a Labor government could have kept Holden making cars in Australia until 2025. But it would have cost taxpayers about $500 million on top of the assistance the industry is receiving from government. Tough day: Holden workers finish their shifts yesterday. Picture: Mark Brake. General Motors has announced it will close its Holden car-making operations in Australia by 2017 with the loss of nearly 3000 jobs. The decision places at risk the future of the only other car maker in Australia, Toyota. "I do not believe a car industry can survive in Australia with a Coalition government," Mr Shorten told ABC Television today. Labor had vowed to pump in another $500 million to the automotive transition scheme, he said. It would have been to the middle of the next decade. Mr Shorten defended Labor's record in government, especially its response to the Bracks review which recommended lower tariffs on imported cars. You can build all the tariff walls you like, they're never going to be big enough to stop competition. Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks shared Mr Shorten's sentiments. "I think it was actually avoidable," Mr Bracks told the ABC today. I think the issue that really tolled on General Motors on their decision to now cease production in 2017 for Holden was the uncertainty in Australia. The car maker's parent company, General Motors, cited the strong Australian dollar, high cost of production, small domestic market and competitive global auto market as factors for the decision. Mr Bracks said he suspected the Federal Government also influenced the exit with its "decision to take about $500 million out of assistance." He said another factor was probably the government's productivity commission review "which was ongoing with a divided government uncertain about whether they wanted to give assistance." "What the head office companies want, what Detroit wanted, was a certain path for the future ... so they could actually make production decisions now which are years ahead," Mr Bracks added. He said the government needed to give Holden a "way of operating long term." SA, Vic premiers to meet Abbott on Holden THE premiers of South Australia and Victoria will meet with Prime Minister Tony Abbott today to discuss the fallout from Holden's decision to end vehicle production in Australia. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill and Opposition Leader Steven Marshall, and Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, will meet with Mr Abbott in Canberra. Mr Weatherill had scheduled a meeting before Holden's decision to quit car building by the end of 2017 was announced yesterday. He had expected to argue the case for extra government support for the company but will now be looking for assistance for the 1600 workers who will lose their jobs along with help for the wider auto sector and the state economy. The premier has already been highly critical of the Commonwealth for failing to provide further help to Holden to secure its commitment to building two new model cars from 2016. Mr Marshall said he wanted to focus on developing a plan to get SA back on track. "We all need to work together to make sure the South Australian economy transitions through this difficult time," he said. A spokesman for the Victorian Premier said he would be travelling to Canberra meet with the Prime Minister and his South Australian counterpart. Dr Napthine broke the news of Holden's decision yesterday, and said it was more significant than the closure of Ford. He had also been pressuring the Federal Government to offer financial support to Holden. Holden's decision to stop production is now also expected to feature on the agenda for the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra on Friday. Holden to become shell of itself "The decision to end manufacturing in Australia reflects the perfect storm of negative influences the industry faces in the country including the sustained strength of the Australian dollar, high cost of production, small domestic market and arguably the most competitive and fragmented auto market in the world," GM's chief executive Dan Akerson said in a statement. Uncertain future: Holden workers digesting the news. Grim day: Holden chief executive Mike Devereux.