I am very excited and humbled at the opportunity the MTA Queensland Board has entrusted to me. The chance to lead the Association in its role as peak industry body for the Queensland automotive industry is a challenge indeed. In doing this, I’ll be guided by you, the members, your advice and needs and of course the priorities detailed in 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. I thank the Board for their confidence in me to perform the task of the Group Chief Executive Officer. Having been here for a short time, I have already noticed that our corporate office is well resourced with high calibre professional staff and, together, we’ll work to deliver the quality services and provide the advocacies in the best interests of members and the automotive industry.

My immediate priority has been to engage with the divisional Chairs to identify the highest concerns and issues for action. Watch this space, as I will begin reporting back to you in future editions on how we can repackage what we offer to better meet members’ and industry needs. Put simply, we want to represent the entire industry so we need an organisation and membership approach that can achieve that. I’m committed to working with our divisions and the broader industry on identifying the support needed to position MTA Queensland into the future.

My first official activity was the Annual General Meeting of Members and Board of Directors held on 3 December 2020. Members will recall it was delayed on advice from the Australian Election Commission due to the pandemic restrictions limiting opportunities for members to engage in the election processes. This meeting was important to comply with our Rules and governance obligations. The audited financial statement, the annual reports from the Chair, executive officers, MTA Queensland senior management team and the Chairs of the 11 motor trades’ divisions were agreed.

I am committed to ensure that we deploy support strategies that worked through COVID-19 to help you with your recovery plan. We do really care how you are going and want to hear from you and support your business in any way we can. To date, the feedback is ‘Yes, economic recovery is happening, but we are fearful of what will happen when JobKeeper ends’. It is though, great to see the upswing in new car sales after some two and half years (to be precise 31 months) in the doldrums. November new motor vehicle sales in Queensland increased by 19.5 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The value of the Federal Government’s economic stimulus measures has proved to be vital in sustaining businesses. Members do need to be aware of the Australian Taxation Office’s advice that registrations are open for the JobMaker Hiring Credit. Eligible employers can access the payment for up to 12 months for each eligible additional employee they hire between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021. They will be able to claim up to $200 a week for each additional eligible employee they hire aged 16 to 29 years, and up to $100 a week for those aged 30 to 35 years. More advice maybe accessed at JobMaker Hiring Credit guide.

Following our Priorities for the 2020-21 State Budget submission to the Queensland Treasury, I participated in the pre-budget briefing by Treasurer Cameron Dick. An overview of the State Budget as it relates to the automotive industry was included in a recent Weekly Industry Bulletin. Budget highlights include the creation of the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy supported by an initial $100 million Business Investment fund to advance small to medium sized business that have significant growth potential and create state-based jobs. There is too, the $30 million of investment to increase skills and capability. The investment in training is welcomed, particularly the funding for Pre-Apprenticeship support; the Free apprenticeships for Queenslander under 25 in priority areas initiative; and the additional $200 million for skills investment.

The year ahead

We are no doubt pleased that 2020 is almost behind us but acknowledge the impact will extend to 2021 for industry, business, households and individuals alike. The automotive industry awaits the New Year with the hope for an effective vaccine to be available to restore optimism and the entrepreneurial spirit needed to rebuild businesses and the economy. In the coming year there’ll be ongoing Federal reform policy issues to addressed. These include skills, the digital economy, the tax system and deregulation. We’ll be active contributors in the reform areas relevant to the automotive value chain as has been our long-held practice.

One of the first matters to be addressed in the New Year is the response to the Productivity Commission’s ‘Right to Repair’ Issues Paper. In the first instance, its focus is on the broad range of products with sophisticated technology e.g., motor vehicles, mobiles, refrigerators etc. that require repair. The second is the impact of waste (especially e-waste generated from the disposal of consumer electronics and household goods) on the environment and community, and the current arrangements for the disposal and management of e-waste. Deputy General Manager Member Services Marcello Riotto will discuss the Paper with industry divisions and seek their input for our response.

The Association has been involved in the motor vehicle ‘right to repair’ advocacies from 2017 arising out of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) New Car Retailing Industry market study. Following that Study, and on the recommendation of the ACCC, the Australian Government in 2019 agreed to establish a mandatory code of conduct under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which would specify standards for Original Equipment Manufacturers to share vehicle service and repair information on commercial terms with independent repairers. Our view is that before a mandatory code of conduct can be implemented, further consideration is still required on intellectual property, pricing and a fair representation of all stakeholder views.

The Paper’s focus on waste and e-waste aligns with our emphasis on recycling and waste reduction initiatives. From an industry perspective, we’ve been proactive through the Association’s investment in the Australian tyre recycler, Green Distillation Technologies Corporation. It has developed a world-first process that turns end-of-life car and truck tyres into high value oil, carbon and steel. I encourage you to look up the corporation and learn more about what it can do.

Additionally, Sarfraz Ali Kyani, a PhD candidate at the Queensland University of Technology, is also our research scholar in residence at our Innovation Hub (MTAiQ). His thesis is on ‘Recycling of automotive parts for additive manufacturing’ and he is working with the Chair of the Automotive Parts Recyclers Lawrie Beacham and his division’s members. Sarfraz Ali’s research has wide and positive implications for the auto recycling sector. 95 per cent of end-of-life vehicles can be ‘repurposed’ and our members are in discussions with the Department of Environment on the classification of resource regeneration to include the repurposing of end-of-life vehicles. It is timely to note that Australia has its first national recycling legislation. The Australian Parliament has passed the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020. This legislation will permanently ban the export of waste – including plastics, paper and tyres – beginning on 1 January 2021.

The Last Word

Thank you to the MTA Queensland and staff for making me feel so welcome. To the industry I have every intention of ensuring we continue our role leading the automotive industry into the future. I thank too my predecessor Dr Brett Dale, for his fantastic support and leadership of MTA Queensland over the last five years – they are big shoes to fill.

I wish each of you a Christmas of good cheer and a New Year that brings economic confidence and good health.