Sometimes, in the rush of achieving and delivering outcomes, a period of quiet reflection is a steadying influence. I’ve had the opportunity to do this as I reviewed the past years activities for my annual report to the MTA Queensland Board. The 2018-19 financial year Report Card has been helpful in doing this, as it enumerates the many interactions with members on a range of services and actions.
The most popular service is the workplace relations advice provided by our industrial relations team. In all, over the past year, there was a total of 5,400 engagements with members on industrial related issues. Obviously, members value this service and the quality of the advice provided on workplace matters. For almost thirty-six years, it’s been the solid and reliable intelligence of Industrial Relations Manager Ted Kowalski that has guided members through their obligations and issues as employers. Ted, now has taken down his shingle, handed in the statute and rule book and bid us adieu to explore retirement life. He’s been a loyal servant of MTA Queensland and our best wishes go with him.
Members need not be alarmed or concerned; Industrial Relations Officer Evangeline Kannis will be on hand to provide the quality employment relations advices to which they are accustomed and rely. In the coming weeks, a second industrial relations officer will be commencing employment.
Naturally, I take a close interest in the number of direct engagements with members. During the day, due to general busyness, communication and information traffic into and out of the office is unnoticed. When tallied for the financial year however, a realistic perspective is portrayed with direct interactions with members amounting to more than 5,230 on varied issues.
It is the activities related to the MTA Queensland’s profile where there has been a substantial increase in output and interest. It is clear mainstream media recognise the Association as the peak industry voice for the motor trades as evidenced by requests for comments and interviews and the almost 240 media mentions. We initiated 20 media releases relating to motor trades or organisational issues. The Report Card identifies that the rebuilt website had some 95,000 users and 290,000-page views with a media reach of over 2 million. The Association’s Facebook page has just under 4,500 followers.
The key channel for current information is the Weekly Industry Bulletin sent to member’s inboxes at 11.00 am each Thursday (excepting holidays). With over 100 issues distributed, these contain advices on programs, seminars, meetings and legislative, regulatory and Australian Taxation Office instructions.
Division News
The priority for the Divisions has been their annual general meetings and for the Chairs the finalisation of their reports for presentation to the Annual Board meeting and inclusion in the Annual Report.
The Chair of the Australian Automotive Dealers Association – Queensland (AADA Q) James Sturges resigned to pursue other interests. The incoming Chair will be James Robertson and he will continue in the roles of MTA Queensland Secretary and the Central Queensland Representative. James Sturges has been on the Board of Directors since October 2016 and our best wishes go with him for his new challenges.
Advocacy
In previous Viewpoints I’ve referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and Other Legislation Amendment legislation which conferred QCAT with additional jurisdiction. In a nutshell, QCAT can hear motor vehicle disputes against a motor dealer for failure to repair a defect of a warranted vehicle under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014 or failure to comply with a consumer guarantee under the Fair Trading Act 1984 – (Consumer Law Provisions).
I met QCAT officers for a briefing on the new laws and their application to motor vehicle disputes. Detailed information is in Weekly Industry Bulletin, Issue 107, 5 September 2019.
As a timely reminder, a motor vehicle dispute that has already commenced as a minor civil dispute before September 1, 2019 will continue as a minor civil dispute.
A motor vehicle dispute where the defect or problem with the vehicle arose before 1 September 2019, for which a proceeding has not been started will be heard under the law as it applies from 1 September 2019. The practice will be that disputes not exceeding $25,000 will be heard and determined by an adjudicator. Disputes in which the claim in the application exceeds $25,000 and up to $100,000 will be listed for a directions hearing before a member.
QCAT officers advised on the role of Assessors in disputes exceeding $25,000 and their appointment.
QCAT is now seeking expressions of interest for appointment as Assessors closing October 16th 2019. Suitably qualified and experienced people are invited to apply for appointment to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) as an assessor to assist QCAT in the determination of motor vehicle disputes. We distributed the requirements and process for expressions of interest in our Weekly Industry Bulletin and you can view the information by clicking here.
Following on from hosting the National Association of Women in Construction ‘Women on Tools’ Breakfast in May, we turned out a strong representation for the recent event at Eve Workwear, Morningside. It provided the opportunity to promote employment in the motor trades and network with tradeswomen and apprentices from other sectors including the Australian Defence Force.
Capricorn, one of our corporate partners, hosts member nights at different locations we have recently attended these on the Sunshine Coast and locally
on Brisbane’s Southside. These are occasions when the hospitality is generous and personnel from the automotive industry interact and ‘talk shop’. We’ll be in attendance too on Saturday 2 November for the Capricorn Trade Show and Gala Dinner at the Star Casino, Gold Coast.
Industry News
As each week passes, it seems that more vehicles are being added to the Takata airbag recall list www.productsafety.gov.au.recalls/compulary-takata-airbat-recall. In Australia’s automotive history, the compulsory Takata airbag recall stands out as the most significant happening to beset the industry. There are more than four million affected Takata airbag inflators and involve more than three million vehicle recalls.
Globally, the recall is estimated to affect some 100 million vehicles. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) advises that ‘the compulsory recall requires ‘suppliers’ of vehicles with defective Takata airbags to replace all defective airbags in Australian vehicles by 31 December 2020 (or later if approved by the ACCC). Under the compulsory recall, a vehicle’s ‘supplier’ is the first person to supply a vehicle with a defective Takata airbag into Australia.
Finally
Over the year the MTA Queensland has had many working fora, seminars and meetings. There is only one event however, when we gather to enjoy comradery and celebrate achievement. That is the annual Industry Awards Dinner. This year it is on Saturday, 16 November at the Emporium Hotel, South Bank. It is only there, each of us will find out the winners of the Community, Innovation, and Women in Industry awards and the 2019 Apprentice of the Year.
Until next month, take care and stay safe.