It’s the reporting season. Companies and organisations are in the throes of reporting to shareholders or members their results. Likewise, MTA Queensland too has been adhering to its statutory obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 and the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and the requirements of its own Rules as an industrial organisation of employers to report to members.

The governance of the Association’s accounts, statutory records and financial books have been independently audited and the Directors comprising the MTA Queensland Board and the Executive Team have submitted reports of their activities. All this information has been assembled into the 2019 Annual Report for distribution at the 15 November Annual General Meeting. All members will have access to it via our website. I encourage members to read it, as it provides an excellent narrative of the Association’s record over the past year and the foundation on which we will progress.

The Chairman, Paul Peterson, in his report summarised the year by saying: ‘in a year challenged by digital and technological disruption and difficult trading circumstances, the Association ends the financial year in a sound commercial position and with the vision, proactive leadership and professional and administrative competence to sustain and progress the motor trades into the future.’ He went on to say that each of MTA Queensland’s business and administrative entities had achieved the goals beyond those stated in the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. He credited the outcome to the professionalism and diligence of the dedicated staff.

Amidst the disruption and economic challenges confronting the motor trades in 2019, the Chairman said: ‘MTA Queensland, in its role as the peak industry organisation in the State, continued to provide leadership on mainstream motor trade issues and the emerging technologies transforming mobility and the associated impact on business models and the training regimen’. Reporting to members on the past year’s record is important, but it is to the future we must look and concentrate our energies to achieve the milestones in the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. In concluding his report said: ‘In the midst of severe technological disruptions, now more than ever in its 90-year history, MTA Queensland must lead the industry on the way forward. The Association itself must continue to be innovative in its practices and processes so that it may lead by example. Likewise, motor trades businesses must ensure to consumers and the motoring public, confidence and technological capability in the provision of services and products. The pathway ahead for the motor trades is one of challenge. I’m confident that MTA Queensland has the fundamentals to lead the motor trades through the innovative automotive and mobility transformations to advantage members’ businesses.’

All Directors comprising the 11 Chairs of the automotive motor trades and regional representatives report on their activities and priorities of the past year. Probably, the most sobering is the report from the Queensland Farm and Industrial Machinery Dealers Division Chair David Fraser. He said: ‘2019 is a year that will be recorded in history as one that farm machinery dealers hope to never witness again.’ With that in mind, it is timely to acknowledge the impact of the ‘big dry’ across much of the State on members’ businesses.

Training

Training is one of MTA Queensland’s five pillars. The General Manager of the MTA Institute Paul Kulpa reports a successful year progressing the strategy to be renowned as the premium provider of skills for the automotive industry. At the end of June 2019, the MTA Institute had 30 per cent of the overall automotive apprenticeship market delivering training throughout Queensland. This will be in mind in mid-November when I’ll be meeting again with Senator Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small Business and Family Business, primarily to discuss vocational education issues. I’m keen to pursue with her apprenticeship and trainee career pathways, mentoring, and skills sets. That conversation will be followed up with a one-on-one meeting with the Minister’s staffers for a broader discussion on her portfolio responsibilities relevant to MTA Queensland.

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey visited our MTA Queensland corporate office primarily to attend our training facility and to look at its training programs. This was timely, as the Minister had invited our consideration for the Queensland Electric Vehicle Council’s initiatives that required further research and scoping work. These include:

• electric vehicle experience programs, including test drives;
• support for electric bus trails with a focus on supporting local manufacturing and/or assembly; and
• support for the installation of public transport charging infrastructure.

MTA Queensland is a member of the Queensland Electric Vehicle Council and we advised Minister Bailey that the MTA Institute’s facility would assist in progressing the initiatives.

Challenges and Opportunities

As part of our networking strategy, I met with the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA). This is the national industry association representing manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers of automotive parts and accessories, tools and equipment. It also is a provider of vehicle service, repair and modification services. I discussed with AAAA collaboration around a pilot program for technician gradings and other areas of mutual interest. Further conversations will continue on this issue.

In previous editions of From the Desk of the CEO, I’ve mentioned collaboration with the Ipswich City Council (ICC) on innovation and connected vehicles. The New York-based intelligent Community Forums has ranked Ipswich as one of seven worldwide smart cities with a high interest in driverless technology. We are working with the ICC on a concept of a Mobility Centre of Excellence which would include smart city technologies.

Member Engagement

The FY 2019-20 Quarter 1 Report Card is on the website for members’ interest. Kellie Dewar advises that there is a substantial increase of 30 per cent in direct member engagements compared with the previous quarter. This is due to our commitment in delivering the member engagement strategy and having regular and ongoing dialogue with members on services and industry issues to ensure the value and benefit of belonging to MTA Queensland are clear.

And the last thing

I met with the Shadow Minister for Jobs, Small Business, Skills and Training Fiona Simpson to have a conversation on MTA Queensland and MTA Institute’s policies and programs. This enabled me to acquire an understanding of her party’s small business, skills and training policies. I undertook to share with her some of our submissions on training and motor trades’ issues. The Shadow Minister will be attending the Industry Awards Dinner on Saturday, 16 November at the Emporium Hotel, South Bank and will address the event.

It’s difficult to say this. Ted Kowalski, the trusted Industrial Relations Manager, has left the building, but not MTA Queensland. His contribution after 35 years is woven into the tapestry that forms the Association. He was farewelled on 16 October at a special in-house event. We wish him the best in retirement.

Until next month, as Henry Ford, the industrialist and the founder of the Ford motor company said, ‘execute ideas with enthusiasm . . . as it is the bottom of all progress’.