Media Releases



  • Expert Calls For Prosecutions over Unsafe Commercial Vehicles

    The Department of Labour should prosecute employers who make workers use unsafe vehicles, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:

    “The law is quite clear: employers are required to provide a safe workplace and can be prosecuted if they don’t.”

    “Legally, a motor vehicle is a workplace, yet the Department of Labour appears to be taking no action against employers who put their workers at risk by making them drive unsafe vehicles.”

  • Chinese takeover of Holden “a real possibility”

    Speculation that Australia's iconic Holden brand will be sold to a Chinese company is valid, but this will not save Australian jobs, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says China isn’t interested in protecting the Australian car assembly industry.

    “What the Chinese want is the dealers and the technology. The Holden Commodore would make an ideal vehicle to sell from China to America, and the Chinese could probably retail it for around 30% cheaper than a Commodore built in Australia.”

  • Government needs to rethink road safety strategy

    The weekend road toll should serve as a wakeup call to the government, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says New Zealand’s road safety authorities have largely wasted road safety resources by targeting all drivers instead of drivers within the seven riskiest groups.

  • Car safety expert backs plan to raise drinking age

    One of New Zealand’s leading road safety experts backs proposals to raise the drinking age, as part of a package of measures aimed at easing the damage caused by alcohol.

    Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide, says:

    “The rise in youth drinking is mainly the result of younger people having easier access to alcohol. The only real way to reverse youth drinking is to restrict youths’ access to alcohol. It’s that simple.”

  • Australian car assembly industry doomed

    Australia’s car assembly industry will not survive the economic recession, and Holden will probably be the first to go, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “Holden’s owner, General Motors, is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. The U.S. government will rescue the parent company in order to protect American jobs, but there’s no way the American government is going to rescue Australian jobs.”

  • Public being mislead over roading

    The government is being less than honest with the public over its roading plans, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:

    “The government has announced seven major roads, offering them as a cure for the country’s transport needs. In fact, the new roads will probably benefit the National Party’s friends in big business more than the average motorist.”

    “History has shown that new roads rarely solve traffic congestion for very long. At best they usually just move the congestion somewhere else.”

  • Cheap Chinese cars may deal deathblow to Australian assembly industry

    Chinese cars could deal a deathblow to the Australian car assembly industry, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide. Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, said today: “The Chinese car industry is in trouble and the only way it can get out of trouble is to export to soft targets like Australia.”

  • Missing car keys costing motorists thousands

    Some car buyers are having to spend thousands to get their vehicles running when they lose or break their remote car key, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “Most modern cars require that you have a remote key, or the car simply won’t start. When car owners lose their only remote, they frequently discover that it will cost between $700 and $4500 to replace the keys and reprogram the car’s security system.”

    Matthew-Wilson says that car owners should ensure they have a spare remote key.

  • Holden’s small car will need a miracle

    Holden is making promises that it may not be able to keep, says a leading car industry expert.

    Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide, says:

    “Holden has announced that it will build a small car in Australia. Holden can announce pretty well anything it wants, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. The sad fact is, Holden’s car plants are losing money faster than a drunk at a casino and there’s no easy way of turning this around.”

  • Roller coaster ahead for oil prices

    Cheap fuel prices are a Christmas present that may not last very long, says the carbuyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.

    Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today:

    “Low oil prices mean that suppliers are already cutting back production. Sooner or later the supply of oil will no longer meet demand, and the prices must go up again.”

    “Low oil prices mean that oil companies will simply close down costly oil plants. Examples of this are deep-sea oil rigs and shale oil refineries, which are only really economic when international prices are high.”

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