NSW One Nation leader Mike Newman has claimed botched negotiations resulted in plans for Hyundai to invest $1 billion in a factory in Australia falling through in 2024.

Newman – who NSW Premier Chris Minns has admitted could take his job at the next state election – was working as a senior trade and investment commissioner for north Asia at the time of the alleged approach from the carmaker.

1

According to a report by Channel 7, Newman resigned from the role after being hit with a series of allegations about his behaviour, all of which he denies. Among the accusations was that he breached protocol by texting Minns’ chief of staff in an effort to get the premier to meet with Hyundai.

One of the texts, sent in January 2024, allegedly reads: “Hyundai execs got back to me and seem keen to invest north of $1bn in NSW including a car plant. So seniority is a must. They invested $7bn in US on a battery plant late last year.”

Newman later said the meeting fell through because it had been “bungled”, and the company went to Victoria instead but did not invest there either, the report states. Hyundai would not comment when approached by WhichCar by Wheels. 

It’s unclear exactly which American factory Newman referred to. Hyundai has an EV manufacturing plant in Georgia, and a battery factory in the same state developed in a joint venture with SK On.

Australia has been touted as a possible production centre for EVs and batteries lately. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd called on the country to revive its carmaking industry in September, saying “the 3D printing and EV revolutions mean we can rebuild an Australian auto sector and repair this fatal vulnerability in our national security”.

This month the CSIRO, Australia’s top science body, released a statement reading: “With electrification of our transport, energy system and industry driving global demand in batteries, new analysis reveals Australia already has the capacity to become a battery manufacturing powerhouse.”