Senator Abetz attacked the agreement - which Toyota agreed to - saying it was unproductive and had a number of ''restrictive clauses''. Toyota is fighting to cut costs. Credit:Wayne Taylor He cited the 21-day Christmas shutdown at Toyota's factories, the half day of work on the last day before shutdown, as well as 10 days paid leave for union delegates. ''These clauses shouldn't have been in the agreement,'' he told the Sydney Institute. ''Management needs to accept responsibility. But it is deeply troubling that the employees' right to vote on proposed variations has been frustrated … we have union bosses dictating the terms without hearing from the employees.'' Toyota declined to comment but is seeking 29 changes to its agreement including more restrictions on the use of blood donor leave, which it claims is being abused by workers.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary Paul Bastian called on Toyota to resolve the issues around the negotiating table and not through the courts. ''We are not going to stand by and allow this government to seek to shift the blame for the state of the Australian automotive industry onto workers. The decline of this industry rests solely with this government and no one else.'' Mr Bastian attacked Treasurer Joe Hockey's recent interventions saying he had ''goaded'' Holden to leave. ''Well he got what he wished for,'' he said. ''The result of that is the entire auto industry collapsing. It will be very difficult for one company to survive.'' Senator Abetz' decision to intervene in the Toyota case comes after Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane last week warned workers need to accept cuts to ''archaic'' pay and conditions or face the car maker's exit from Australia. Mr Hockey accused the AMWU of effectively being ''at war'' with Toyota by blocking the car maker's attempts to cut its cost base. Loading

The Victorian government will this week present a plan to Mr Macfarlane setting out how it believes the car maker's future in Australia can be assured, and comes as the federal government develops a manufacturing plan for Victoria and South Australia. Follow us on Twitter