Breaking News: Holden to cease manufacturing in Australia in 2017

[karj]

Breaking News: Senior Government Ministers believe Holden will cease manufacturing in Australia by 2017.

Holden has made the decision to pull out of Australia as early as 2016, according to senior Government ministers.

The ABC has been told the announcement was supposed to be made this week but has been put off until early next year.

Holden says its discussions with the Government are continuing, and it does not respond to speculation.

Despite several of his colleagues believing Holden is leaving, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says that is not his understanding.

The Federal Opposition has been warning Holden would make the decision before Christmas if the Government did not announce an assistance package for the industry before then.

The Government has said it would wait for the findings of a Productivity Commission inquiry, due in March.