MTAA Board disappointed with Gillard’s decision

MEDIA RELEASE

MTAA Board disappointed with Gillard’s decision

Today the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) Board met to consider the ill-considered decision of Deputy Prime Minister Gillard to transfer the training responsibilities of Automotive Training Australia (ATA) to Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA). The MTAA Board expressed its complete and utter disappointment at this decision in relation to such crucially important training arrangements in the automotive sector.

Executive Director of MTAA, Mr Michael Delaney, stated; “It is fair to say that the decision represents a lack of understanding of the importance and reach of the automotive retail, service and repair sector to the Australian economy; a sector that provides a contribution of some $160 billion a year.”

“It also demonstrates a lack of understanding and concern for the needs of some 100,000 retail motor trade employers and their 308,000 employees in terms of training realities in what is now a technology and high-level-engineering based industry.”

The small businesses that form the majority of the retail motor trades are one of the principal drivers of the Australian economy and the transfer of the training packages to a body not familiar with, or relevant to, the nuances of the trades will not only impact adversely upon training arrangements in the retail motor trades, but also have an impact on those small businesses in terms of their lack of representation in training matters.

The MTAA Board reasonably questions what knowledge MSA has about the automotive industry, in particular the retail, service and repair sector of the industry.

We and our employers and employees wonder why this decision has been taken, who it benefits and what it does in the interests of training in our trades. It certainly does not meet our interests in any way.

Our sector is responsible for over 30,000 automotive apprentices and trainees, automotive manufacturing accounts for 1,000 apprentices and trainees and the manufacturing skills council for relatively no training at all in our sector, unsurprisingly, given its lack of knowledge and skills of our sector.

The MTAA Board has resolved to continue its own efforts to secure training for our trades and industry.

ENDS

19 March 2009

For further information please contact MTAA on 02 6273 4333