Over 16 years with MTA Queensland in roles that have included advocacy, I’ve acquired an extensive knowledge on the various policy positions and views of the membership relevant to the motor trades. This information has been acquired from listening to members and attending industry Divisional meetings.
As important as firsthand knowledge is, it is the direct advice or written input to me that contributes to the quality of the representations or the advocacy to governments and stakeholders.
Advocacy is the first of the five pillars that underpins the Professional Circle and features prominently in the Strategic Plan 2019-21 as a prime Business Excellence goal. This is to ensure members’ views and policy positions, that impinge on their business operations, are prioritised in advocacies to decision-making entities.
Advocacy has dual components. It comprises listening to the viewpoints of members through their Divisional representatives and representing these and the associated policy stances to government, agencies, stakeholders and the media. In this period of significant technological disruption, MTA Queensland has been a leader in articulating the impacts of technology transformations on the automotive value chain.
Generally, governments and the associated agencies initiate the advocacy process. This is by way of consultation or discussion papers, roundtables and parliamentary committee hearings to seek stakeholder views on various policy positions. It is our practice to respond either by submission or in other fora to all issues relevant to the motor trades or the standing of the Association as an Industrial Organisation of Employers.
I share with members the advocacy process that is enhanced by the engagement of Divisions in the viewpoint and policy work in the preparation of submissions. This highlights too, the advantages of being a member of MTA Queensland and having views voiced into the government and agency decision-making processes.
The most recent submission was our response to the Australian Treasury’s Mandatory Motor Vehicle Scheme consultation. This was relevant to both the Automotive Engineers’ Division (AED) and the Australian Automotive Dealers’ Association (AADA). The engagement and advice from both Divisions was substantial in enabling the crafting of a document reflective of members’ views. It is on the website for member’s perusal.
The Automotive Remarketing Division’s (ARD) direct input into the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and other Legislation Amendment Bill submission ensured the Parliamentary Transport and Public Works Committee had viewpoints before it for consideration relevant to used car dealers’ issues. The active engagement of members in the process meant the ARD’s Chair Peter Dever had evidence and substantial views to articulate at the committee’s hearings and was confident in doing so.
The Queensland Government’s Trading Hours Review was a significant issue for our new and used car, motorcycle, farm machinery dealers (AADA, ARD, Queensland Motorcycle Industry Division, Queensland Farm and Machinery Division). The Divisions were opposed to the deregulation of trading hours for the motor vehicle sector and were unified and strong advocates of the policy position to retain the existing Vehicle Order.
There was engagement with government agencies by submissions; deputations to parliamentarians; attendance at government led regional roundtables, Parliamentary Committee Hearings; and media statements. It was this strategic advocacy and broad-based collaboration that saw the existing Vehicle Order retained for the motor vehicle sector.
The Service Station and Convenience Store Association has had long-term proactive policy engagements on a wide range of policy issues. These include the State government’s fuel price reporting, fuel price boards and the several stages of the Biofuel Mandate Implementation consultations. The latter was complex involving in-depth discussions amongst the division’s membership to secure a consensus on some of the proposed policy processes.
I draw members attention to our response to Jobs Queensland the Future of Work in Queensland to 2030 -Evolution or Revolution discussion paper. The submission is on the website for member’s interest. MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa attended Jobs Queensland’s workshop to participate in the discussion on the future of work from the perspective of the motor trades.
Industry Divisions and training
Industry Division members have dual roles – they are employers and, at the same time, are in elected positions on their specific industry Division. Therefore, they must have the best interests of the industry as the priority in decision making and policy formulation.
An important role the industry Divisions perform is to provide input into the training regimen for their various sectors. Recently, the majority of the industry Divisions met with MTA Institue General Manager Paul Kulpa and Operations Manager Marcello Riotto to discuss the Institute’s Training and Assessment strategy. This engagement was to seek validation on the appropriateness of the units of competency, sequence of delivery, method of delivery and reference material for training for their specific industry.
Diversity
There is another word starting with “D” – other than ‘disruption’ – that must be part of the motor trades’ conversation. And that is ‘diversity’ in the workplace where women are participants in the business operations and the Association’s structure.
The Strategic Plan 2019-21, under ‘Corporate Social Strategy’ has the creation of opportunities for women in automotive as a key action measurable by the initiatives and partnerships established to support women in automotive.
Here at MTA Queensland’s corporate office, there is diversity. The same sentiment cannot be applied to our Divisional Committees or Board representatives which is disappointing as there are women in the motor trades as owners, partners, retailers and in the workshops.
I’m confident of increased involvement of women in the motor trades and the Association’s Divisional and Board roles. To engender confidence, for the first time in the 90-year history of the Association, there will be a Women in Industry Award to be presented at the 2019 Annual Industry Dinner.
The criteria for this Award will be published in later editions of Viewpoint and the Motor Trader.
Also for the first time, MTA Queensland will host the ‘The Women on Tools Toolbox Breakfast’ during Queensland’s Small Business Week. The date for this event is Wednesday, 29th May from 7.00 to 9.30am and it is to be held in our Sir Jack Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence workshop.
The breakfast is an initiative of the National Association of Women in Construction and open to women in all the trades. I encourage women in the automotive value chain to ‘put down the tools or the ipads’ to celebrate ‘women on tools’ and enjoy this free breakfast in the company of all tradeswomen.
Women are choosing the motor trades as a career. For example, the 2014 MTA Institute Apprentice of the Year Award winner was Sarah Gale of Rego’s Mobile Mechanical Services in Atherton.
The 2018 MTA Queensland Community Award winner was presented to Fionna Blackburne and the team from Southeast Auto Mechanical. This was for the delivery of the Women on the Move course – a free program which offers women the opportunity to learn basic vehicle maintenance. The Motor Trader’s MTA Q&A feature regularly highlights women as operators, partners and in the workshop.
Finally
Something to reflect on. Motorised vehicle and road transport has been around for about 120 years or so and has adapted to the many disruptions over those years. MTA Queensland (under various different organisational names) has been in existence for 90 years. Likewise, it has adapted to serve the membership through the several disruptions over those years and will continue to do so into the future.
Until next month take care and stay safe.