CEO’s Message

MTA CEO, PAUL UNERKOV

2023 will soon be upon us and the MTA has actively been engaging with governments and the wider industry to ensure members can get back to business as usual after the heavily disrupted past few years.

Critical to this is alleviating labour shortages. The MTA recently presented to a meeting of the South Australian Cabinet where the Premier and Ministers considered our advice and policy concerns. We know just how important it is that the industry has a strong number of apprentices beginning their training and we will continue to advocate for this on your behalf.

To this end, we welcomed news from the Federal Government that it is increasing permanent migration from 160,000 to 195,000 places this year and will speed up visas for foreign workers. Similarly, the Federal Government made the right decision by permitting senior Australians to return to the workforce and earn additional money without losing any of their pension.

The MTA’s Mentoring Program is also about to commence and this is yet another example of the inroads we are making, with government hearing our calls to do more to retain young people in the automotive industry. With the continual skills shortages the automotive industry is facing, the South Australian Government-funded program will deliver mentoring to first and second year apprentices. This will help them where they may otherwise struggle and leave our industry.

In addition to the completion of training, we need to attract young people into a trade. We have apprenticeship opportunities available in the industry for anybody with a desire and willingness to learn. Today’s apprenticeships are at the cutting edge of an innovative career, where new technologies are developing new opportunities, including for electric vehicles.

As our uptake of zero and lowemission vehicles increases, we need to harness its economic benefits in an industry dominated by traditional skilled labour. My study tour last month to Europe with Chair Frank Agostino and our interstate MTA counterparts provided direct insights from markets that have significantly transitioned, including Norway, Sweden, Germany and the UK.

The lessons we learnt from visiting repair shops, manufacturers and industry leaders will ensure the local industry is best positioned to embrace, adapt or respond to the new technologies. The insights will also assist the MTA to help shape Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy and influence government policy.

The MTA has also ensured our sector’s interests aligned with recent policy reforms. The new State Government’s Shop Trading Hours proposal has listened to the concerns of the retail vehicle sector by not pursuing a blanket deregulation approach. Similarly, through your feedback, the MTA ensured Return to Work legislation did not result in a cost blow out for businesses.

Central to this has been building on previous meetings with the South Australian Government to regularly let them know what automotive needs and how we can work together for the benefit of industry.

On a personal note, as you may know, I have made the decision to step down from my role as the CEO of the MTA. For me the timing is right and it has been an honour to support our members and industry as well as provide apprentices with the opportunity to get their start in a rewarding career.

The Board has unanimously promoted Darrell Jacobs, current General Manager of Automotive Skills Development, as CEO upon my retirement. There is much still to be done before now and the end of the year but I know the MTA is in good health and will be in a strong position moving forward under Darrell’s capable leadership.

It has been the highlight of this role to engage with our industry and members and I look forward to catching up with you between now and the year’s end.