As we wind up the 2019 calendar year, my thoughts settle on Christmas and our MTA Queensland family spread across the State. To our diverse MTA Queensland family my wish for you is to enjoy all that Christmas offers and that the New Year brings prosperity and peace. Undoubtedly, the challenges ahead arising from technological change, climate and economic conditions must be confronted, but with intelligence, capability, tenacity and resilience, in the words of Martin Luther King Jnr, ‘we shall overcome’.

For 90 years, MTA Queensland, through various name changes, has ‘overcome’ technological, social, economic and climate changes and progressed. And we, as the MTA Queensland family, paused on 16 November 2019 at the Industry Awards dinner to celebrate that journey of concern, frustration, growth and achievement to stand today as the peak industry body representing the state’s automotive value chain. It is our vision and aspiration to ensure all MTA Queensland members feel they are connected to a trusted, influential and engaged peak industry body.

Recognition of Achievement

Once a year we down tools to recognise the exceptional contributions of individuals, collaborators or member businesses to our industry and the achievements of outstanding apprentices. At the 2019 Industry Awards Dinner, a capacity crowd of members, supporters, stakeholders and guests were privileged to celebrate the industry’s best – the finalists and winners of the Community, Innovation, and Women in Industry Awards and the Apprentice of the Year.

Across the State, members as individuals and through their businesses contribute to their local communities through service and other contributions. The actions of Hertz Mount Isa epitomised the essential characteristics of an outstanding community contributor and is the winner of the Community Award. Women increasingly are positioning themselves in the automotive industry as owners, partners, professionals, ‘tradies’ and leaders. Rebecca Frizelle, of Frizelle Sunshine Automotive, Gold Coast, is the inaugural Women in Industry champion exemplifying the diverse capabilities women bring to the industry. OZ-DIY Electric Vehicles, Brisbane, is a business built around the conversion of older cars to electric vehicles and was the winner of the Innovation Award. Kimberley Wallace, from Morgan Motors in Emerald starred as 2019 Apprentice of the Year.

The 2019 Industry Awards Dinner was the social and celebratory highlight of the year. Guests including the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and the Shadow Minister for Employment and Small Business and Skills Development saluted the achievers and the MTA Queensland on its role as the peak body representing the automotive value chain. Thank you to the auction donors for their contributions which collectively raised more than $16,000 for our Charity Partner, Youngcare. Also, we acknowledge and thank the Industry Award Dinner Platinum Supporters – Commonwealth Bank, MTAA Super and CORE SME.

Annual General Meeting

In the words of Chairman Paul Peterson, the 2018-19 financial year was one of ‘significant achievement’ derived from realising the goals set in the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. The steady and capable stewardship of the Association will be maintained with the continuation of the majority of Directors on the Board.

There is a one new addition to the Board through Bruce Sommerfeld, the Dealer Principal of the South Burnett Machinery Pty Ltd at Murgon, who was elected the Chair of the Queensland Farm and Industrial Machinery Dealers Division (QFIMDD). This is a consequence of the retirement of David Fraser after approximately 12 years as QFIMDD Chair. Bruce has been an MTA Queensland member for some 24 years and will bring experience of the sector and the wider industry to the Board.

Meetings

An important meeting for the MTA Queensland was with Senator Michaela Cash, Minister for Employment Skills, Small and Family Business and her Chief of Staff Daniel Try, to discuss a wide range of vocational education and industry issues. It was the second meeting with Senator Cash and, similar to the first, was productive, covering a wide range of issues relative to MTA Queensland. The priority for discussion was the current skills shortage coupled with the projected increase across the automotive industry requiring the Government’s focus on strategies and programs to retain and attract apprentices and trainees.

MTA Queensland has been a provider of the Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA) program for almost two years providing state-wide support to over 1109 first and second-year automotive students. It ends at the end of this year. Under the mentoring program, we achieved an 81 per cent retention rate – above the 75 per cent KPI for the program. This is up from an industry average of 60 per cent and the equivalent to employing an additional 1,000 apprentices across the state. It is unlikely that a new strategy would attract that number of trainees. ISMAA for the automotive industry has been a great success and careful thought should be given to the government’s decision to abandon it. In view of ISMAA’s success and the shortages in skilled automotive technicians, I advocated to Senator Cash for the government to prioritise the program’s extension and to cover apprentices throughout their four-year journey.

Challenges and Opportunities

I’ve met again with the Ipswich City Council including PwC to continue discussions on the concept of a Mobility Centre of Excellence that would include the smart city technologies.

In last month’s From the Desk of the CEO, I mentioned meeting with the Australia Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) to discuss collaboration around a pilot program for technician gradings and other areas of mutual interest. I’ve followed up that conversation with AAAA Executive Director Stuart Charity about the pilot program aimed at accrediting our technicians with international standards. Other collaborative opportunities will be pursued. AAAA will be holding its national convention – Autocare 2020 – at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 19-20 June 2020 and we are proud to be included as a feature within the event program.

And the last thing

As we look toward to Christmas and the New Year, my best wishes to all MTA Queensland Group staff. Thank you for your support, professionalism and service to members and students. To all MTA Queensland members, may the festive season be joyful and the New Year prosperous.

Until next year, 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’.