Coalition divided on cheap imports threat THE Abbott government is facing internal pressure to stop cheap imports undercutting the nation's food producers amid fears of further job losses that could devastate regional towns. Tony Abbott's own Coalition colleagues have lashed out at a "philosophical aversion" to helping Australian industry as they demand temporary tariffs or other barriers to save local manufacturers. The Australian can reveal that Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has sounded out industry and union officials to set up an urgent taskforce to advise on ways to help the manufacturers. As the cuts extend from food to other sectors - with 500 jobs to go when Electrolux shuts its regional NSW factory - the new group would be charged with examining each case for industry assistance. Mr Macfarlane flies to Japan and China today for talks with trade partners as he considers support for Victorian fruit processor SPC Ardmona, seen as the most urgent case after job cuts at Simplot, Golden Circle and McCain Foods in recent weeks. Sharpening the Coalition's internal debate on industry aid, Howard government minister Sharman Stone has denounced a Productivity Commission report that dismisses warnings about the closure of fruit and vegetable firms employing thousands of workers. Dr Stone, whose electorate includes the SPC facility in Shepparton, savaged the commission and said it was "incomprehensible" that its draft findings did not recognise the damage to SPC Ardmona and other fruit processors suffering from cheap imports. She said the findings seemed to be based on a "philosophical aversion" to any support for Australian industry. "Like so many others I am baffled by the inconsistency and lack of evidence for the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission following its inquiries," she wrote. The consequences of the poor reporting are likely to be the demise of the last remaining Australian fruit manufacturing business in Australia, an outcome which will serve the interests of our WTO member market competitors very well. Her arguments are backed by Coalition colleagues including some in the Nationals who want the commission to clear the way for a cabinet decision to erect trade barriers. The PC inquiry is being watched by trade officials from Europe, South America and Asia because it could authorise the Abbott government to impose tariffs or other limits on processed fruit and vegetables. The commission has the power under World Trade Organisation rules to endorse "temporary safeguards" if imports are increasing so fast they threaten serious injury to domestic industry, but it rejected the need for action in an interim report last month. Mr Macfarlane said last night the government wanted to see manufacturers and food processors on a "sustainable footing" for the long-term. "The government will take a measured and methodical approach to consulting with the industry and to considering the challenges facing the food processing sector," he said. Labor industry spokesman Kim Carr rebuked the Abbott government for scrapping $400 million of industry assistance in the Clean Technology Investment Program.