In March 2019, a ‘green team’ was established to support Key Strategy 2 in the Strategic Plan 2019-2021 and to action our commitment to the Corporate Social Responsibility Statement in the same document.
The team’s objective is to develop and apply practices and procedures that would lessen the MTA Group’s environmental footprint and is made up of staff that span across all aspects of the business. Core strategies focus on actions to minimise the use of resources for all business and training objectives. Some actions are relatively minor, but the totality of the measures have had the effect of avoiding, reducing and offsetting impacts on the corporate office environment.
Achievements abound, such as echo bins for recycling; paperless meetings; recycling oils, batteries, copper, metals, fluids, tyres, paint/panel; and ride/share and car-pool for meetings where possible. The challenge for the ‘green team’ is to achieve more such as the utilisation of the water tanks under the building, limiting printing and improving recycling in the workshop.
Small Business Digital Champion
The Association recognised in advance that digitisation would impact the automotive value chain and undertook actions to inform members of the digital transformations underway. We did this through the series of Carmageddon symposiums, including engaging with academia to gain an understanding of the effects on business models to impart to members. These and other efforts resulted in MTA Queensland, as an industry association, being selected as one of 15 Small Business Digital Champions under the Australian Government’s Small Business Digital Champions Project. Its purpose is to promote the benefits of ‘going digital’ to their respective memberships. This may include advice on technology trends and technology adoption of: hardware, software, digital training, online content development, online digital planning and coaching support.
The project to establish ‘a trusted digital advisory service extends across two years for which, under the contract, the Association will receive $50,000 each year. It’s a free service to members. A requirement under the contract is to prepare, construct and deliver website and online content that is about digital transformation. A website is under construction, and additionally, the Weekly industry Bulletin will provide members with broad a range of digital advice and information. This will include: technology trends and technology adoption, hardware, software and online content etc. I encourage members to seek this section out both on the designated website and in the Weekly Industry Bulletin.
The digital advisory service content will be accessible from the DIGITAL CHAMPIONS button on the front of our website.
In addition, as a condition of the contract, some 200 members can expect to receive one-on-one interactive services (via face to face meetings/direct email/phone/live webchat/webinar/face to face workshops) during each six-month period. Group Chief Executive Officer Brett Dale said the Association’s role in delivering the service would be crucial in bringing automotive small businesses up-to-speed on the digital resources required to be successful in this era of technology. This was particularly relevant when ‘only 50 per cent of Australian businesses having a website and even less use business processing software for accounting and invoicing’.
Digital Health Survey
Our first action as a small business digital champion industry association is undertaking an assessment of the digital needs of the automotive industry. This is in the form of a digital health survey which will help us evaluate the needs of members. It is not time consuming: it will take just 60 seconds. By participating you will contribute to us developing the best digital advice to you.
The link for the survey is: www.mtaq.com.au/digital-health-check-survey/
Whilst thinking about small business programs and grants, the Queensland State Budget will be tabled on Tuesday, 11 June. The long-standing practice is for the Association to submit a pre-budget submission, outlining the priorities for the automotive value chain. It is on the website for member’s interest. A component of the State Budget is the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy. This was established 2016 and incorporates grant programs that are advantageous to business. These include the Small Business Digital Grants Program, and Small Business Entrepreneur Grants Program.
We support the continuation of these programs as they have the potential to be advantageous to automotive value chain sector.
Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
Recently I attended a roundtable hosted by the AFCA to inform of its role to help small businesses resolve complaints about financial products and services. These complaints may derive from financial firms, including banks, credit providers, insurance companies, financial and investment advisers and superannuation funds. The only requirement for AFCA to deal with the complaint is that the financial firm must be a member of AFCA. With over 37,000 members it seems most issuers of financial products and services are members. To check if a specific financial firm is a member, the website is: afca.org.au/find-a-financial-firm
In the instance of small business, unresolved complaints lodged with AFCA may originate from sole traders and partnerships and small businesses with less than 100 employees (incorporated or unincorporated). AFCA can consider complaints about small business credit facilities up to $5 million. For most matters, a complaint must be lodged with AFCA within six years of the complainant first becoming aware of the problem, or within two years of a response from the financial firm. From 1 July 2019, for a period of 12 months, AFCA can consider complaints back to 1 January 2008, based on its current scope and thresholds rather than those applying at the time.
AFCA can consider a broad range of complaints extending from errors in banking transactions and credit listings to inappropriate investment advice. Threshold limits and compensation caps apply. For a claim relating to a credit facility, the compensation amount limit per claim is $1 million for small businesses. Most other claims (excluding superannuation), the compensation amount limit per claim is $500,000.
To discuss a financial complaint or know more about processes, the AFCA contact is 1800 931 678 or visit the website: www.afca.org.au
Biofuels Mandates
The Service Station and Convenience Store Association (SS&CSA) is considering a Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy discussion paper reviewing Queensland Biofuels Mandates. The mandate commenced on 1 January 2017 setting a minimum of 3 per cent of the total volume of regular unleaded petrol sales and ethanol blended petrol sales (such as E10) by liable fuel retailers be sustainable biobased petrol. From 1 July 2018, the biobased petrol mandate increased to 4 per cent.
Recent analysis identified that the biofuels mandates had been increasing the uptake and availability of ethanol and improving the supply chain for biodiesel, but the 4 per cent ethanol mandates had not been achieved. The review addresses barriers to increase consumer demand necessary to meet the 4 per cent target. The SS&CSA will be responding to the discussion with viewpoints that reflect the obligations of E10 and biodiesel fuel sellers and consumer demand.
Finally
The election scene is over until Saturday, 28th March 2020 when the local government general elections will be held. In the meantime, congratulatory letters will be written to all successful Federal election Queensland House of Representatives and Senate candidates. Additionally, commendatory letters will be forwarded to Federal Cabinet and the Shadow Cabinet Ministers whose portfolio responsibilities align with the interests of the Association. Each of these letters promote the Association and invites each to visit our corporate office to discuss the automotive value chain issues, skills and training.
Until next month, take care and stay safe.