Media

AMIF Reaction Competition Review

Details

Published: Friday, 03 April 2015 10:43

Competition Review ignores consumer risk from parallel import regulation relaxation

Calls to relax regulations on the import of second hand cars and light commercial vehicles in the Competition Review final report , ignores identified consumer risks; fails to identify significant consumer benefit for the automotive market; and smacks of creating competition for competition sake.

Australian Motor Industry Federation (AMIF) CEO, Richard Dudley said the report failed to adequately explain why automotive retailing requires further government intervention to increase competition when Australian consumers are already enjoying the greatest choice of new car brands and models (67 and more than 350) at the lowest prices in 20 years.

'Consumer risk s posed by an influx of second hand vehicles of potentially unknown origin, dubious history and probable difficulty in terms of ongoing servicing and repair appear to be of secondary concern in the report', Mr Dudley said.

'The review report makes a giant leap of faith that these consumer risks can be adequately mitigated through regulatory and enforcement regimes and enhanced 'buyer - beware' awareness programs.

'AMIF remains unconvinced that any regime or program can be developed and implemented, with the necessary resources, within three years , to address the risk to consumers', he said.

AMIF reminds the Federal Government of its commitment to not allow "...Australia to become the dumping ground for other countries' old second-hand vehicles", when considering its response to the Review.

Download .pdf

AMIF Welcomes Establishment of Tyre Product Stewardship Program

Details

Published: Tuesday, 21 January 2014 03:07

The Australian Motor Industry Federation (AMIF) today welcomed the launch of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) and the establishment of the Tyre Product Stewardship Program. AMIF CEO, Richard Dudley, said the creation of TSA enabled a national, coordinated, focus on researching and creating new uses for the 48 million end-of-life tyres; strengthening existing tyre recycling businesses and potentially creating new ones; enhancing employment opportunities and reducing the environmental harm caused by the illegal dumping of waste tyres.

"The creation of TSA and the Stewardship Program is the culmination of almost 20 years of hard work and involvement by tyre retailers nationwide as well as other parts of the industry,” Mr Dudley said. With approximately 66 per cent of waste tyres ending up as landfill, or stockpiled or illegally dumped, AMIF fully supports the creation of new products and technologies originating from an undervalued commodity.

Mr Dudley said AMIF's State and Territory Motor Trades Associations and Automobile Chambers of Commerce Members and the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (AATDRA) encourage all responsible tyre manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, collectors, recyclers, and associated businesses to embrace and support TSA and Stewardship Program.

"Consumers can be confident that the issue of waste tyres is being addressed and as of today we as an industry can begin examining and implementing strategies to lift the percentage of tyres being recycled," Mr Dudley said.

Further information: Richard Dudley - Chief Executive Officer: 0412 146 828

Influential car dealer new Federation Chairman

Details

Published: Tuesday, 17 December 2013 03:06

The Australian Motor Industry Federation (AMIF) today announced Mr Neville Gibb, the President of the Motor Trade Association of South Australia, has been appointed AMIF Chairman for the next two years.

“I am honoured to be elected by my state and territory colleagues into the role of National Chairman of the Australian Motor Industry Federation. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and express deep appreciation to outgoing Chairman, Maurie Pinfold, from the NSW Motor Trades Association, for his considerable contributions and leadership during the formative two years of the Federation” Mr Gibb said.

“I look forward to working with all state and territory Motor Trade Associations, the Victorian and Tasmanian Automobile Chambers of Commerce, and AMIF Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dudley, to further progress the retail automotive sector in Australia.

“There are many challenges facing our members, like the body repair industry which is currently responding to an evolution in technology and the constant pressures of forced cost reductions by insurers. 

There are also a number of issues facing the new car sector due to the large number of imported brands sold in Australia and the ability of local dealers to continue to be profitable as a result. And the independent service station sector continues to face the might of the supermarket giants, which AMIF has and will continue to fight to ensure the sector remains competitive.

“All these issues and many more need appropriate policy responses and as Chairman of AMIF I will continue to work with my state and territory colleagues to progress them further. I will also continue to follow-on the good work already completed in AMIF’s ‘Automotive 2018 – An Industry at Crossroads’ platform and will continue to drive the issues identified,” he said.

Neville Gibb is a prominent new car dealer from the South Australian rural centre of Jamestown. The Gibb family has been members of the South Australian Motor Trade Association for more than 50 years. Neville has been a member of the MTA-SA board since 1997, President of the South Australian Association for the last three years and Deputy Chairman of AMIF. During his time Neville has seen a large number of changes in the retail, service, repair and recycling sectors of the Australian automotive industry, including the significant technological advances and has gained a deep understanding of the issues facing the industry. He has overseen a number of key policy issues for the MTA in South Australia, and has been significant contributor to MTA-SA’s push for mandatory vehicle inspection scheme at change of ownership among many other state and national issues.

Further Information: Richard Dudley, CEO AMIF 0412 146 828