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Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland
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HEAD OFFICE Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 P.O. Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: publications@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au EDITOR Jonathan Nash ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Ted Kowalski Paul Murray POLICY Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Barry Browne 03 9807 9154 Email: barry@barrybrownemedia.com.au EDITORIAL Editorial submissions are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information telephone the Editor 07 3237 8777 SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including GST) Australia: $72.60 annually Overseas: $110 annually
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MOTOR TRADER PUBLISHING POLICY Motor Trader is the official publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland. The role of Motor Trader is to inform members of current issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded as the business magazine for the Queensland motor industry. The role of Motor Trader is not to be in competition with the technical magazines already on the market. It will advise of new vehicles being released and of the latest technology incorporated into them; it will advise of latest technology affecting members in each of the MTA Queensland Divisions; it will keep members abreast of the latest in motor industry training and industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed of the latest technical aids available through MTA Queensland Member Services, which will assist members in staying ahead of the technological revolution presently being encountered within the motor industry. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any advertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.
MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848
02 From the editor
CORPORATE PARTNERS
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04 From the desk of the CEO 05 Policy/Viewpoint
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08 MTA Q&A MICHAEL TELFORD AND JAMES CORNFORD FROM TOOWOOMBA TOTAL MECHANICAL
MEMBERS ESSENTIALS 19 Training GM's Professional Circle perspective 20 Professional Circle training 22 Member matters 27 Member profiles 28 Industrial relations
Feature 10 CELEBRATING OUR INDUSTRY AT THE MTAQ PRESIDENT'S BALL 13 JAMAHL BYRNE NAMED MTAQ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
30 Concept Corner MOPAR-MODIFIED 1971 DODGE CHALLENGER
16 Members Classic VW'S CLASSIC KOMBI: 1965 VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 1 SPLIT SCREEN
33 Industry insight CONTROL STAFF AND SKILL SHORTAGES WITH GOOD SYSTEMS! December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 1
From the editor
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JONATHAN NASH EDITOR
2 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
ELLO AND WELCOME to the December 2016/January 2017 edition of Motor Trader magazine. At the beginning of November, the MTA Queensland held its annual President's Ball at the Hilton Brisbane hotel. In what was a truly memorable event, MTAQ members, industry stakeholders and VIPs - including representatives from political parties, other state and territory MTAs and MTAQ corporate partners mingled together to celebrate another rewarding year in the automotive industry. The proceedings were hosted by the wildly funny Shane Jacobson - he of Kenny and Top Gear Australia fame - and as well as the evening being about guests enjoying some terrific entertainment, there was also the not insignificant matter of acknowledging the tremendous work of MTA Queensland members and MTA Institute apprentices through the presentation of the Community Award, the Innovation Award, and the Apprentice of the Year Award. This year's Apprentice of the Year winner was Jamahl Byrne from Hansen Ford/Mareeba Toyota in Mareeba near Cairns. Having qualified in December 2015, Jamahl has continued to pursue training opportunities through his employer and is already well on his way to becoming a technical advisor and master technician with Toyota and Ford. Jamahl is a worthy winner, but the quality of all the nominees was outstanding and we congratulate Dane Turnbull, Trent Harper, Reyd Nicholson, Zane Lord-Miller, Jacob Gonzalez, Theresa Kerr and Caleb Ferguson on their being shortlisted this year. It is a great achievement. “This year’s nominees were of the highest calibre and it was a very hard decision to name only one of them as Apprentice of the Year," said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of MTA Institute. "They will all be outstanding ambassadors for our industry in the future.” You can read more about Jamahl
and about the MTA Queensland President's Ball in our feature starting on page 10. In our MTA Q&A feature this month we talk to Michael Telford and James Cornford from Toowoomba Total Mechanical. The duo have owned and run the business for seven years and have established a stellar reputation in Toowoomba - a reputation confirmed when, this year, their business was voted the best mechanical workshop in a poll held by the city's newspaper. You can read more about Toowoomba Total Mechanical on pages 8 and 9. In our Member's Classic feature we head to the Sunshine Coast to meet with Nick Parker-Davies, owner of The Kombi Shop. You can probably guess from the name of Nick's business what classic vehicle he owns - and it is indeed a fine example of that surfer/ hippy favourite, the VW Kombi. Check it out on pages 16 and 17. The end of the year is award season and a number of MTA Queensland members have picked up gongs this year. In this edition, we catch up once again with John Edwards, who was shortlisted for Small Employer of the Year at the Australian Training Awards; Andrea McCarthy from McCarthy Panel Works in Mackay, whose business won three national prizes at the recent Paint & Panel Awards; and Mark Drennan from HHarvey Collision Repairs on the Gold Coast which won state recognition at the same awards night. Great results all round! Finally, as another year comes to an end, we here at MTA Queensland wish all of you a very merry Christmas, a happy New Year and our best wishes for 2017. And, if next year you would like to share your story with us, want to appear in Member Profiles, or have a classic car, bike or truck you would like to see featured, then please don't hesitate to contact me.
Cheers, Jonathan Nash jonathann@mtaq.com.au
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From the desk of the CEO
BRETT DALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND
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’M HEARING THE Christmas bells! It’s the time to clear the in-box, reply to messages, return phone calls, respond to correspondence and network with members, stakeholders and suppliers over a convivial ‘ginger ale’ or two. And that is what I’ll be doing - particularly the latter - with much enthusiasm over the festive season! A significant cerebral work to be done with MTA Institute General Manager Paul Kulpa before Christmas is our response to Job Queensland’s Positive Futures: Apprenticeship and Traineeships in Queensland discussion paper. From our perspective, this is a priority submission for our membership and Queensland’s automotive value chain as we are both an employer organisation and training entity. With General Manager Kellie Dewar, I met with the Office of Fair Trading Director of Investigations and Enforcement, and the Commonwealth Australian Consumer Law review team to discuss the Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand’s Australian Consumer Law Review (ACL) Interim Report. This report has important issues for the membership, one being the proposal for the introduction of a lemon law for motor vehicles. Our stance, as stated consistently in numerous submissions, is to raise both retailer and consumer awareness of the ACL and the consumer guarantee by a concerted educative and training program.
4 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
Our view is that any decision to introduce a lemon law should be deferred to allow for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the educative program. We have stated that a lemon law, if introduced, should be generic in application and not confined to motor vehicles. We were heartened during the discussion of support for an educative program and the generic application of a lemon law. One of our corporate partners is MTAA Super. I met with Chief Executive Officer Leeanne Turner to discuss fund performance, collaboration on training awards and member retention. MTAA Super is now a leading industry fund holding $9.8 billion in funds managed and is targeting $12.7 billion in 2023. Ms Turner expressed concern about the Federal Government’s removal of a default fund for specific industry e.g. automotive, and the consequences for the fund. Retention strategies are underway, one of which is the introduction of a MTAA Super App for smart phones to help members with fund management and information. An issue that MTAA is addressing relates to non-active active accounts. These, with less than $4,000 in the account, inactive for a year, and the Super Fund without the account holder’s current address, will be automatically moved to an Australian Taxation Office superannuation holding account. The threshold for this transfer will rise to $6,000 from 31 December 2016. Strategies are in place and will be further developed to ensure members are informed of their account details and their ability to continue to use it when changing jobs. The MTAA Super is the sponsor of MTA Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year Award for which MTA Queensland is appreciative. I pursued with Ms Turner a proposal for an Australian Automotive Apprentice of the Year, a concept of which we are very supportive. Discussions will be opened with the MTAs in other jurisdictions to seek their views and co-operation for a national award. Early in December, Kellie Dewar and I will meet with the Department
of Science, Information Technology and Innovation Director General and Assistant Director General to discuss investment in innovation. This meeting follows a visit from the Queensland Minister for Small Business, the Hon Leeanne Enoch, who also has responsibility for the Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy portfolio. I encourage members to consider the Accelerate Business Grants Program and the Small Business Digital Grant, the details of each are on the MTA Queensland website.
PRESIDENT’S BALL The annual President’s Ball was the social occasion of the year for the motor trades. It is there that our corporate partners, local, state and interstate industry leaders, political representatives, guests and members blended under the talented humour of master of ceremonies Shane Jacobson to celebrate the automotive value chain’s achievements over the past year. There has been much positive feedback from guests and many compliments for the organisational professionalism. Thank you Kellie Dewar and Administration Assistant Iesha Iselin! This special event provided the opportunity to acknowledge industry champions who have made significant contributions through community leadership and innovation, and to the future workforce through the apprentice of the year award. Congratulations to each and to the Apprentice of the Year. An ongoing feature of the President’s Ball is the charity auction for Youngcare to assist young people with high care needs to live life with choice, independence and dignity. My focus in between genial social networking was to introduce to guests, and into the English lexicon, the word ‘carmageddon’. I defined it as ‘the exciting era in which the automotive value chain will transit an innovation revolution.’ This will be in the form of future and present ‘disrupters’ - driverless technology, vehicle automation,
artificial intelligence, vehicle-tovehicle communication, vehicle-toinfrastructure communication, zero emissions through fuel cell technology, pre collision technology etc. Having identified ‘carmageddon’, the challenge for each of us is to seize the opportunities provided by the disrupters, to adapt and shape the innovations for individual use and to the automotive value chain into the future.
MTA QUEENSLAND RACING TEAM An exciting announcement is the new partnership with Altitude Motorsport, headed by David Wood, and the launch of the MTA Queensland Racing Team - at zero cost. He has been appointed as ‘MTA Queensland Racing Ambassador’ and will head up the MTA Queensland Racing Team program and drive the MTA Queensland Excel Cup car in 2017. David has a long list of achievements from his many years in competition and is one of the most accomplished and popular drivers on the Queensland tour. This partnership will deliver a mutually beneficial ‘grassroots’ motor
sports program in 2017. As a major partner, we would contribute to the commercialisation of the team operation. In exchange, a program would be developed to introduce local motor sport competitors and their sponsors to the MTA Queensland and provide benefits to it. This strong alliance will have strategic benefits to both the MTA Queensland and Altitude Motorsport. From our perspective, the goal is to achieve our corporate objectives of enhanced awareness and membership offerings plus other overarching benefits. Altitude Motorsport will campaign one car in the 2017 Hyundai 3 Series Cup as part of the Queensland State Motor Racing Championships. It will be held over five three-day events during the year at Morgan Park in Warwick. The Racing Team and the Team vehicle will carry our colour scheme and be branded with our name and logo including those of corporate partners and suppliers. There will be extensive opportunities to use the MTA Queensland Racing Team vehicle as an on- and off-site
(at the Centre of Excellence or on the track) training tool allowing students to work with the vehicle to further develop their skills.
AND THE LAST THING As this is the last Motor Trader for 2016, I thank the MTA Queensland and the MTA Institute’s Boards for their leadership and moral courage over some difficult times. I acknowledge our diverse membership and the excellent corporate team who work with professionalism and dedication to support members and the industry. I wish each of you a happy Christmas and joyful New Year. My focus over the festive season will be to promote the Association, and ‘carmaggedon’, through many networks and to stakeholders. Over the festive season, I will be at home enjoying it with my family and awaiting the birth of our first grandchild. Until January, as Henry Ford, the industrialist and the founder of the Ford motor company said ‘execute ideas with enthusiasm . . . as it is the bottom of all progress.’
Policy/Viewpoint
KELLIE DEWAR GENERAL MANAGER MTA QUEENSLAND
C
HRISTMAS IS COMING with a rush and there is much to do in the remaining days of a year that seems to have flown by. Yet, when I think of the Professional Circle, it seems a long time ago since it was announced at the 2015 President’s Ball. Yes, the Professional Circle is twelve months old and, encouragingly, Divisional Executives Colin
Fitzpatrick, Ian Cole and Andy O’Hearn report that member’s utilisation of the branding in their businesses ‘is impressive.’ There is positive recognition of the importance of the ten benchmarks of industry standards that make the difference for consumers dealing with a business in the motor trades. The ending of the year also brings an end to the era (since 25th March, 1949) of the MTA Queensland registered as an Industrial Organisation of Employers under the Industrial Relations Act 1999 (the IR Act). In early December, Industrial Relations Manager Ted Kowalski and I will appear before the Full Bench of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for a Hearing for a deregistration order having met the specific requirements under the Act for a majority of members to have agreed to the deregistration. As indicated in previous Viewpoints, it is unnecessary to be registered
under the state IR Act as none of the member issues we deal with or represent on behalf of members require state registration. The Association, on 26th November 2014, gained Federal employer status under the Fair Work Act, which allows it to represent members’ interests in all industrial relations matters.
ADVOCACY The past month has been busy with deadlines, commitments and engagement with networks. Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Dale and I attended the scheduled meeting with Office of Fair Trading staff to discuss a comprehensive agenda on matters important to members. These included: • the issue of regional motor dealers requiring a second-hand dealers licence to sell all-terrain vehicles which includes used farm vehicles and used competition or pleasure adult/child trail bikes. At present I am liaising with the Office of December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 5
Policy/Viewpoint Regulatory Policy on the number of affected dealers; and • Fuel price boards - which have been a long-term agenda item. The advice is that the Queensland Government is in the process of a preparing draft regulation based on the South Australian model which seemingly is both practical and simple to understand. In essence it includes that fuel retailers must not display a discounted fuel price on any price board and that price changes to a fuel type displayed on the price board must correlate with the price displayed on the fuel pump. We will be provided with a draft of the regulations once finalised. I trust you’ve noticed the Queensland Government’s ethanol fuel advertising campaign across all media platforms encouraging motorists to increase their use of ethanol blended petrol and biodiesel. As a stakeholder, we were briefed and consulted on the campaign by the appointed advertising agency. A feature of the campaign is the interactive E10 OK website which has a vehicle E10 compatibility checker that allows motorists to search by their vehicle’s registration or make and model to check if it’s E10 compatible. In early December I will be representing the MTA Queensland at a State Government road safety stakeholder meeting to consider road safety messages for the coming Christmas holidays. Across the year there have been several road safety campaigns to align with public and school holidays to press the need for drivers to take care and be alert on Queensland’s vast road system.
SUBMISSIONS In November’s Viewpoint I referred to two pending submissions - the Queensland Government’s Retail Trading Hours Review (Trading Hours Review) and the New Car Retailing Industry - a market study by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (New Car Market Study). Both of these submissions are on the website. Referring to the trading hours 6 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
review, the MTA Queensland’s long standing policy is for the settings in the 1990 Trading Hours – Non-Exempt Shops Selling Motor Vehicles State Order (Vehicle Order) to prevail. To establish the membership’s contemporary views on trading hours, we undertook a survey of members - to which there was a strong response (and thank you for your participation). It indicated 90 per cent support for the retention of the existing Vehicle Order. The key recommendations in our submission included that the Reference Group note the MTA Queensland’s policy and to evaluate trading hours in the context of a holistic industry policy which includes the industrial relations framework and employment policy to provide for a robust evaluation of the trading hours for the motor vehicle sector. The New Car Market Study recommendations are consistent with policy positions enunciated in previous submissions to Commonwealth entities and agencies. Two pertinent suggestions were that: • The ACCC collaborate with the automotive value chain to develop a training programme to equip salespersons with the knowledge to comprehensively inform ‘new car’ buyers about the statutory guarantee available to all private use ‘new cars’ and business vehicles below $40,000; and • Before considering a ‘lemon law’, the ACCC allow the educative suggestions to achieve traction so that an evaluation can be undertaken to determine if a ‘lemon law’ is needed to reinforce the consumer protections. Currently, I’m preparing our response to the Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand’s Australian Consumer Law Review Interim Report which, amongst other issues, canvasses views on a lemon law. On this matter I’ll submit similar observations to that contained in the New Car Market Study. An issue that crept up on me was the draft legislation on ‘GST on low value imported goods’ to which I’ll be responding to support the proposed policy position. Essentially, it proposes to ‘level the playing field for Australian
businesses selling goods that cost $1,000 or less that compete against overseas businesses.’ In numerous submissions to Commonwealth departments and agencies I’ve enunciated the challenges faced by members, particularly with spare parts divisions in their businesses, to compete with overseas on-line trading. The proposed legislation achieves our long-held policy objective of competing on a ‘level playing field.’ If the draft legislation has a successful passage through the Federal Parliament, it will apply from the 1st July, 2017. For more information, I’ve posted Treasurer Scott Morrison’s media statement on the website.
PRESIDENT’S BALL This Motor Trader provides delightful insights of the President’s Ball. It was an evening of great fun and the celebration of achievements. Judging from the many messages to us it was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to the Apprentice of Year Jamahl Byrne, from Hansen Ford/Mareeba Toyota; the Innovation Award winner, ASR Collision Specialists at Cairns; and the Community Award winner, RHD Classic Supplies & Services at Aitkenvale. It is noteworthy that each of the winners are regional and, to be precise, from the north and the far north of Queensland. A coup for our regional membership! From a personal perspective, this Ball was different to the two previous events. The ambience of the room sparkled, generated by stylish theming applicable to the motor trades and, of course, complemented by everyone in their finest. Credit for the ‘style and theme’ rests with Administration Assistant Iesha Iselin. Clearly, Iesha has demonstrated a new talent which I’ll foster for other event opportunities.
FINALLY Happy Christmas to you and your staff and every best wish for a prosperous New Year! I’ll be having a short break over the festive season with the family at the Sunshine Coast. Whatever your plans, until 2017 take care and stay safe.
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MTA
QA &
What products and services does Toowoomba Total Mechanical provide?
JC: We do a bit of everything - all automotive mechanical, including engine reconditioning and gearbox reconditioning, as well as tyre services where we retail brands including Michelin, Toyo, Hankook, Nexen and several budget ranges. We also work with the classic car community doing engine rebuilds and the like. I’ve always had an interest in that side of things – I have a ’55 Chevy – and it’s a side of the business that has potential to grow.
How long has the business been operating, how did it get its start and what is your background in the indsustry?
Michael Telford and James Cornford
JC: We were working together at a dealership in Toowoomba, realised we had a lot to offer and started Toowoomba Total Mechanical in 2009. I had a love cars because of my old man. He’s not in the motor industry, more of a hobbyist, but he is very serious about old car restoration. When I was young, my mum said to him that he and I needed to get into something together and car restoration was it. So I was around the mechanical side of things from early on and knew I always wanted to get into the industry. I left school at grade 10 and bounced around a bit. I did a couple of years in an engineering shop, gained experience with welding and metal fabrication and then a friend of mine put in a good word for me at Wippells Autos in Toowoomba. I ended up working there for nearly 11 years. MT: Being brought up on a farm I was always mucking around with something mechanical - on the farm you needed to know how to fix things. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do though and when I left school I went
Michael Telford and James Cornford started their business, Toowoomba Total Mechanical, in 2009. Seven years on, the duo’s hard work and dedication has seen their business earn a stellar reputation and be named as the best mechanical workshop in the city. to University for a year but realised that wasn’t for me. I was going for a diesel mechanic apprenticeship but was then offered an apprenticeship with Wippells where I worked for seven years.
Who are your customers? MT: 75 per cent of our customers are everyday people. The other 25 per cent are business customers such as electricians, plumbers and the like. We are also an agent for QFleet.
You were recently named as Toowoomba’s best mechanical shop by the Toowoomba Chronicle. How did that come about? MT: They did a Facebook poll in the city and there was a 12-hour window during which people could comment on who they liked in different business categories. To win was great and we were certainly very pleased - if you’re going to get into the newspaper, why not get in there for something good! JC: And there has been a good response from it too. We have always been busy but it has made a difference. We have a lot of new customers.
To what do you attribute your success? JC: Michael and I really push ourselves in the workshop. We didn’t want to start a business where we would sit in a chair all day and give out orders – we want to stay busy and do a lot of the work ourselves. And I believe the customer is looking for someone who can tell them, and show them, what is going on and why. Our female customers tell us they trust us because of that sort of service - they know we are going to be straight up and honest with them. MT: We are a ‘real’ workshop. We might not have the polish of a dealership but we will give it to you straight. Ultimately, I think the priority for
customers is that we are honest, open and do the job properly. We are a small team of good mechanics who know what we know and are good at it. JC: We do see the results of ‘shotgun diagnosis’ where a mechanic has jumped in and spent thousands of dollars to find a problem only for it to subsequently turn out to be something quite simple. We only work in the customers’ best interests.
Have you seen many changes in the industry over the years? JC: There has been a lot of changes, both in the mechanical side and the business side. We do see a few hybrid vehicles – fleet Camrys and so on – and the digital systems such as CAN bus have proven to be really reliable. We have yet to see anything serious enough that would mean a car going back to the dealer. It was, at one time, a worry about how hard it would be to adapt but, in fact, we have flowed with it very well. MT: I think that is because we are of a generation where the changes make a bit more sense. When carburettor cars changed over to fuel injected, a lot of guys might have thrown up their hands in the air but, realistically, it’s still a combustion engine and there are still inputs and outputs and so on. I think there are those in the industry who are holding their breath and crossing their fingers hoping time will turn back. We don’t see it that way. We have a good business and are very optimistic that we can adapt to any changes and that there are, in fact, a lot of opportunities out there. JC: The business side of things has changed too and we have got serious about adapting to social media and so on. MT: We have a presence on social
media and that combines well with the traditional word of mouth way we have drawn in business. Word of mouth has always been good for us – we have never advertised - and that, along with these other outlets such as the website and Facebook, has worked well.
How many staff do you have? MT: There are three of us here. Myself, James and Torin Edwards who is a mechanic who works with us and actually did his apprenticeship with us. JC: We all work together in the shop and Michael and I do the business and paperwork side of things – well maybe Michael does 75 per cent of that!
What does the future hold for the business? JC: We may well employ another tradesman or apprentice soon. However, as I mentioned, both of us enjoy working and staying busy so we need to make sure there is enough work to keep all of us busy. We used to have a problem with parking at this location, but we have leased land next door to increase the available space and that lets us keep things moving in and out of the workshop.
What do you do with your spare time, if you have any? MT: We don’t work the weekends anymore so I enjoy water skiing, jet skiing and a few of the usual vices – tennis, golf and poker! JC: I enjoy drag racing and motorbikes and am currently in the process of building a house. I have run my old Chevy a couple of times on the track but I have bought a rear-engine dragster which has a 555 stroker big-block producing 1000hp and runs in the 7:20s. I haven’t raced it yet but that should give me a fright! December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 9
MTA Queensland President's Ball 2016
Shane Jacobson (centre) with MTAQ Apprentice of the Year nominees Caleb Ferguson, Jamahl Byrne, Dane Turnbull, Theresa Kerr, Trent Harper, Jacob Gonzalez and Zane Lord-Miller
Shane Jacobson
MTAQ CEO Dr Brett Dale
Jamahl Byrne with mum Elsy
MTAQ Chairman David Fraser
10 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
Mark Dutton from Triple Eight Race Engineering
T
HE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY community came together on November 19 to celebrate another rewarding year as the MTA Queensland held its annual President’s Ball at the Hilton Brisbane hotel. More than 200 guests attended the event, including many MTA Queensland members, industry stakeholders, representatives from both sides of the political aisle – including Mark Bailey, the Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply; and Michael Hart, Shadow Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply – as well as representatives of other state and territory MTAs. The evening was hosted by Shane Jacobson, awardwinning actor and entertainer who is, perhaps, best known for his role as the character of Kenny in the film of the same name. Something of a car fanatic himself – he was host on the Australian version of Top Gear – Jacobson was a fantastic MC, keeping the guests entertained with a constant stream of comedy gold as he guided the evening through introductions, award announcements and auction presentations. Speakers on the night included Paul El Deir from prize sponsor OurAuto, Peter McAnulty from Suncorp Group who sponsored the Innovation Award, and Dale Durden from the Capricorn Society who sponsored the Community Award. Leeanne Turner, CEO of long-standing supporter MTAA Super also spoke prior to making the evening’s major announcement of the winner of the Apprentice of the Year award. Roland Dane, the boss of Triple Eight Race Engineering was scheduled to be guest speaker but, unfortunately, was taken ill in the days leading up the Ball. The team’s manager, Mark Dutton, stood in for Mr Dane and was a gracious and informed substitute. Dr Brett Dale, CEO of MTA Queensland, followed Chairman David Fraser’s opening address and spoke about the evening being not only a celebration of the work and achievement of members, but also a reflection on the future of our ever-evolving industry. “Many will know that the level of disruption to business through technological advances and consumer demand are greater than ever before,” said Dr Dale. “In fact, no business today resembles what it was yesterday. Ladies and gentlemen what an exciting time to be in an industry that is facing an innovation revolution . . . it is opportunity at its best! “We know the disrupters are here or are well on their way. These include driverless technology, artificial intelligence, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, zero emissions through fuel cell technology, pre-collision technology . . . the list goes on. “How do we as an industry prepare for this level of disruption? We need to lead innovation and shape and create our business’s future. My challenge to us all is to posture business to lead and wait for no one. Ladies and gentlemen, ‘Carmageddon’ is on its way. What does it mean and how can we help prepare industry to seize these opportunities? Amongst us tonight are some great industry champions who will, no doubt, be at the wheel of the ship.” As well as acknowledging the tremendous work of MTA Queensland members and recognising the future direction of the industry, the President’s Ball is an event at which the quality of students training with MTA Institute is recognised and honoured with the announcement of the Apprentice of the Year award.
INNOVATION AWARD
Darryl Jones from ASR Collision Specialists accepted the 2016 Innovation Award
AWARDED TO ASR Collision Specialists in Cairns. ASR have committed not only to investing in cutting-edge equipment to ensure premium service delivery but also in staff development to ensure they are leaders in their field. The use of new technology, staff incentive programs, of streamlining workflow systems to increase production and of effective environmental waste management, as well as focusing on quality control and prioritising customer service, has paid off handsomely for the business with production increasing up to 40 per cent without the need for additional personnel.
COMMUNITY AWARD
Sharine Milne from RHD Classic Supplies & Services accepted the 2016 Community Award
AWARDED TO RHD Classic Supplies & Services from Aitkenvale for their commitment to people and nurturing learning and skills development for those with physical or mental health problems, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. RHD has supported many individuals with various disabilities and has undergone specialised training to ensure they can best support people with a range of disorders. They regularly host groups from organisations such as Mates4Mates, emergency services, veterans, defence, youth organisations and many others, aiding with all aspects of being in a work environment. This year, there were eight outstanding nominees and the award, and the prizes of $2000 and the opportunity to work with Triple Eight Race Engineering, was won by Jamahl Byrne, a 20-year-old mechanic from Hansen Ford and Mareeba Toyota in Mareeba near Cairns. An outstanding choice for Apprentice of the Year, Jamahl qualified in December 2015 but has continued to pursue training opportunities through his employer and is already well on his way to becoming a technical advisor and master technician with Toyota and Ford. “This year’s nominees were of the highest calibre and it was a very hard decision to name only one of them as Apprentice of the Year. They will all be outstanding December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 11
MTA Queensland President's Ball 2016
ambassadors for our industry in the future” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of MTA Institute. “However, Jamahl was an extremely strong candidate. He knows, as he said in his acceptance speech, that gaining his trade is only the beginning and working in our industry involves continual learning. I believe strongly that not only is he a very worthy apprentice of the year but that he will also become an industry figure of some significance.” “As our industry’s peak body, the MTA Queensland has the responsibility to acknowledge our future leaders,” added Dr Dale. “An apprentice who is looked after from the beginning and who is acknowledged for their achievements is going to be all the better for it. The nominees this year were outstanding and a lot of the credit must go to their employer who is supervising them, the trainer who trains them and, of course, the individual themselves.” Other awards presented on the night included the MTAQ Community Award, celebrating the involvement of MTAQ member businesses in their communities, and the MTA Queensland Innovation Award that recognises the creative thinking of members in developing their businesses through new technologies and practices. The 2016 Innovation Award was won by ASR Collision Specialists from Cairns. ASR have committed not only to investing in cutting-edge equipment to ensure premium service delivery but also in the development of staff to ensure they are leaders in their field. The use of new technology, of staff incentive programs, of streamlining workflow systems to increase production and of effective environmental waste management, as well as focusing on quality control and prioritising customer service, has paid off handsomely - the business has increased production by up to 40 per cent without the need for additional personnel. The 2016 Community Award was presented to RHD Classic Supplies & Services from Brisbane. In the business of servicing and repairing motorcycles for almost 17 years, 12 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
RHD won the award for their commitment to people, and nurturing learning and skill development for those with physical or mental health problems. RHD has supported many individuals with various disabilities and has undergone specialised training to ensure they can best support people with a range of disorders, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They regularly host groups from organisations such as Mates4Mates, emergency services, veterans, defence, youth organisations and many others, aiding with all aspects of being in a work environment. Raising money for charity was also a major part of the evening’s festivities and several thousand dollars was raised for Youngcare – the charity that assists young people with full-time care needs – through the auctioning of some pretty special items. Amongst them was a 2016 Queensland Maroons jersey signed by coach Kevin Walters and a Queensland Maroons Ball signed by the entire team. Both items were donated by Suncorp. Triple Eight Race Engineering donated a rear panel from the Triple Eight Holden Commodore driven by Craig Lowndes at this year’s Bathurst race. Signed by Lowndes himself, the panel was snatched up for an excellent $2000. Also on offer, and kindly donated by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association, were three travel items: a mystery flight package for two, a yachting and exploring Moreton Bay adventure and a Q1 Resort and Spa Escape on the Gold Coast. Spurred on by some truly inspired, and very funny, hosting by Shane Jacobson, the auction raised more than $7000 – a great result. The 2016 MTA Queensland President’s Ball was a magnificent night and the Association thanks our guests, friends and sponsors for making the evening so memorable. We look forward to doing it all again in 2017.
JAMAHL BYRNE: MTAQ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR J AMAHL BYRNE, A 20-year-old tradesman with Hansen Ford and Mareeba Toyota in Mareeba, near Cairns, is the MTAQ Apprentice of the Year for 2016. Presented with the award at the MTAQ President’s Ball it was, said Jamahl, a nerve-wracking experience as his name was called as this year’s winner. “I was trying to contain my heartbeat to be honest,” he said. “It went from stable to a million miles an hour.” Among those who travelled from North Queensland to attend the Ball with Jamahl were his parents Elsy and David and it comes as no surprise to hear they were ecstatic with his win. “I think my dad nearly shed a tear and he and mum informed the whole family straight away,” said Jamahl. “She had a couple of shots of me receiving the award on her Facebook page before I even got back to our table. And that post went from 0 to 100 comments pretty quickly!” It has been a fantastic year for Jamahl. He completed his light vehicle apprenticeship in December 2015 and an ongoing commitment to training with Toyota and Ford means he is well on his way to reaching master technician status for both companies. Though it was Jamahl who did the hard training yards to reach this point, he is quick to highlight his father’s influence. The duo spent a lot of time together over the years restoring classic cars and when his dad realised Jamahl had ambitions for a career in the auto industry, he worked hard to help his son reach that goal. “Dad put his heart and soul into encouraging me and helping me to become a mechanic,” said Jamahl. “He taught me about older vehicles and really pushed to help me get this job and get me into the industry. A lot of what has happened is down to him and for me to receive this award really means a lot to him.” Of course, it wasn’t just Jamahl’s
the industry and personal drive that made him a stand-out apprentice and now a highly-valued tradesman. “He is genuinely interested in cars, and genuinely interested in furthering his career,” he said. “Now that he is qualified, I know he will go as far as he can with Toyota and Ford and Jamahl Byrne with Leeanne Turner, CEO of MTAA Super, and Shane Jacobson we will have to work to keep him interested and challenged. But that is a father who was proud of his great problem for us to have. There are achievement. Family and friends flooded many kids who think things should Jamahl with calls of congratulations and just be handed to them but Jamahl is when he returned to work the Monday not like that – he knows that rewards after the Ball, colleagues were quick come when you put in the hard yards.” to add their congratulations too - in Jamahl is now tasting a few of those a typically workshop-style, tongue-inrewards the MTAQ Apprentice of cheek fashion. the Year award comes with some very “They took the mickey out of me for desirable benefits including a $2000 most of the morning,” joked Jamahl. “I prize and, this year, the opportunity got called all sorts of names and when to work with Triple Eight Race I suggested something about a job, or Engineering at next year’s Townsville when someone suggested something V8 Supercar event. to me, they would do a slight bow While Jamahl said the money when they walked away!” would help fund a trip to Japan next Joking aside, it is, of course, the year, to work with Triple Eight was a environment in which an apprentice truly exciting opportunity. works that helps form them, and their “That is the pinnacle,” he said “I’ve trainers, employers and colleagues always been a racing nut. Dad and play a vital role in their development. I have been watching V8 Supercars Jamahl is extremely grateful for the since I was knee high to a grasshopper guidance he received from both his and it would be a tremendous MTA Institute trainer Steve Buckley achievement if I was to ever get into and his colleagues at Hansen Ford and the racing industry and work at such a Mareeba Toyota. In return, there is high level. The week with Triple Eight real pride in his achievement. could, potentially, mean a start in that “We are extremely proud of him,” industry so I will do everything I can said Luke Micklewright, the company’s to show them what I am made of.” service manager. “As an apprentice, Whatever happens, it is clear Jamahl worked very hard and was Jamahl is set to enjoy a long and always looking to do extra work. The successful career in the automotive minute he qualified he was busting to industry – a fact that Luke get online and do more training with Micklewright recognised early on. Toyota and Ford. In fact, in this past “Jamahl aspires to more than year, he has worked so hard that he working on the shop floor,” he said. has overtaken everyone else in the “He knows in years to come he will workshop as far as the Toyota training move into a leadership role and he side of the business goes.” will be a great ambassador for the It is, said Luke, Jamahl’s passion for industry.”
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 13
HOW CHANGES TO THE ACL COULD AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS Most businesses have probably not heard of the changes to the Australian Consumer Law relating to unfair contract terms, which come into effect from 12 November 2016. Nadia Sabaini explains the law pre and post change and provides guidance on what businesses should do. THE LAW RELATING TO UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS The Australian Consumer Law (ACL), set out in Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), contains various critical protections for consumers and these include:1. consumer guarantees; 2. prohibitions about sales practices; and 3. prohibitions about unfair business practices. One major aspect of the unfair business practices protections is the prohibition against unfair terms in standard form contracts. The legislation does not define the term ‘standard form contract’ but the ACCC and ASIC outline in their supporting information that a standard form contract will typically be one that has been prepared by one party to the contract and is not subject to negotiation between the parties - that is, it is offered on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis. If a party asserts that a contract is a standard form contract, then it is presumed to be so unless the other party can show otherwise. In deciding whether a contract is a standard form contract, a court must take into account the following, whether:1. one of the parties has all or most of the bargaining power in the transaction; 2. the contract was prepared by one party before any discussion occurred between the parties about the transaction; 14 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
3. the other party was, in effect, required to either accept or reject the terms of the contract in the form in which it was presented; 4. the other party was given an effective opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract; and 5. the terms of the contract take into account the specific characteristics of the other party or the particular transaction. It is generally expected that this will cover most contracts with consumers, particularly those signed online or via application or order forms attaching terms and conditions. A term in a standard form contract will be considered unfair if it:1. would cause a significant imbalance in the parties rights and obligations arising under the contract; 2. is not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party who would be advantaged by the term; or 3. would cause detriment (financial or otherwise) to a party if it were to be applied or relied on. In deciding whether a term is unfair, the court must take into account:1. the extent to which the term is transparent; and 2. the contract as a whole. There are broad-form examples of unfair contract terms in the ACL and a body of case law in existence from the introduction of the unfair contract terms legislation in January 2011 to provide guidance on what terms may be considered unfair. These include:1. broad forms of disclaimers of liability such that they may even exclude a party’s negligence or wilful default;
2. terms allowing a party to cancel a contract at will without specification or reason or when not reasonably necessary to protect the party’s legitimate interest; 3. terms which do not allow a party to terminate the contract under any circumstances or only with the other party’s agreement; 4. terms which are not appropriately defined such that their application is unclear; 5. penalties and impositions that do not bear a sufficient relationship to the genuine loss that may be suffered; 6. terms allowing a party to unilaterally vary the contract including the characteristics of the goods or services to be provided; 7. Terms allowing a party to unilaterally renew the contract with or without notice or approval by the other; 8. terms that allow a party to unilaterally determine when a contract has been breached or interpret its meaning; 9. terms that limit a party’s vicarious liability for its agents; 10. terms that allow a party to assign a contract to a third party to the detriment of the other party without consent; 11. terms restricting the evidence a party can use to make a claim or take legal action; and 12. terms that shift the burden of proof applicable at law including by requiring a party to prove unreasonable or potentially unprovable elements, such as the authority of an agent of the other party. Each matter is to be considered on a case by case basis. What can be said is that provisions stating that the term is subject to statutory rights which cannot be excluded, or a party having the right
to terminate the contract if it does not approve the actions of the other, will not of themselves save a term from being considered unfair. As the court will be considering matters such as need, fairness and transparency, it would be prudent to take pre-emptive measures such as:1. specifying the reason for the term, for example, by inclusion of an acknowledgement as to type of damage that the relevant party could suffer; 2. providing or pointing out consideration given specifically for the term; 3. drawing the term to the attention of the other party such as by requiring initialing or acknowledgement; 4. being clear as to effect of application of the term, such as by defining terms that might otherwise be regarded ambiguous or providing examples. If a term in a contract is found unfair it will be struck out. If the contract can operate without the unfair term, it will be permitted to continue and the parties remain bound. It is not an offence to include an unfair term in a contract and there are no pecuniary penalties imposed, however:1. the ACCC and ASIC are empowered to, and do, make demand for the removal of unfair contract terms on the basis of complaints received which, if ignored, can result in proceedings against business; and 2. an affected party can bring a claim against the other in relation to an unfair contract term and may be awarded remedies including compensation. There are certain terms and contracts that are outside of the application of the unfair contract terms provisions. The unfair contract terms provisions do not apply to terms that:1. define the main subject matter in the contract; 2. set the upfront price payable; and 3. are required or expressly permitted by law (e.g. franchising code requirements). They also currently do not apply to the following type of contracts:1. shipping contracts (marine salvage & towage, charter party, carriage of goods); 2. constitutions of companies, managed investment schemes or other bodies; and 3. certain insurance contracts (e.g. motor vehicle insurance).
THE EXTENDED APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO SMALL BUSINESSES FROM 12 NOVEMBER 2016 The ACL is a consumer protection body of legislation and applies to consumer contracts only. A consumer contract is defined as a contract for the supply of goods and services or the sale or grant of an interest in land to an individual who acquires it wholly or
predominantly for personal, domestic or household consumption. Under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (“ASIC Act”) a similar definition applies in relation to financial products and services. The recently passed Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015 (Cth) will implement changes from 12 November 2016 to the ACL and the ASIC Act with the effect of extending the application of the unfair contract terms provisions, from 12 November 2016, to small businesses as well as consumers. A small business is defined as a business (which includes a not-forprofit entity) employing less than 20 people (including casual employees employed on a regular and systematic basis). This is determined on a head count basis regardless of hours worked. The unfair contract terms prohibitions will apply to standard form contracts:1. in which at least one party to the contract is a small business; and 2. for which the upfront price payable under the contract is no more than $300,000 (if the contract is for 12 months or less) or $1m (if the contract is more than 12 months). It may be difficult for a party to determine if the other is a small business and a declaration to the effect that it is not will not exclude the operation of the ACL. Additionally, use of the words “in which at least one party to the contract is a small business” means that the unfair contract term protections will apply to contracts where the small business is either the provider or the acquirer of goods, provided that a party must have been a small business at the time of entering into the contract in order to bring a claim. This is in contrast with the unfair terms provisions applicable to consumer contracts, where the consumer must be the acquirer of the goods and services. For the purpose of determining the upfront price of a contract, it is defined to include all payments to be provided for the supply during the term of the contract which are clearly disclosed at or before the time the contract is entered into. This includes payments that are contingent but does not include:1. payments that cannot be calculated upfront such as percentage commissions on future sales or turnover rent;
2. payments not referable to the supply, sale or grant of the contract such as a fee payable for early termination of the contract; and 3. for the purpose of credit contracts, interest and other charges above the loan amount. The application to small businesses applies only in relation to contracts entered into, renewed or varied after 12 November 2016. In relation to variations made after 12 November 2016 to contracts made before that date, the unfair contract term provisions will only apply to those variations. It is important to note that contracts for the supply of goods and services include a range of commercial transactions that will be caught by these provisions if one or more parties is a small business, such as:1. leases including retail shop leases; 2. land contracts; 3. business sale contracts; 4. consultancy agreements; and 5. franchise agreements. Additionally, while these legislative changes extend the application of the unfair contract terms provisions of the ACL, there remain trade practices provisions (including regarding penalties, misrepresentation and unconscionable conduct) that continue to apply to commercial transactions separately.
WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD DO The reforms will have a significant impact on the way in which businesses contract with each other when one or more of the contracting parties is a small business for the purpose of the ACL. It is important that businesses ensure their standard from contracts are reviewed for compliance with the ACL. In the course of review, businesses should consider: 1. the likelihood of contracting with small businesses and whether separate templates should be created for small businesses and larger businesses; 2. the implementation of policies such as the request for information to determine whether the customer is a small business; and 3. if conducting a transport business, the production of alternative contracts for shipping (which is exempted from the application of the unfair terms provisions of the ACL). Bennett & Philp Lawyers specialise in business law and can advise businesses in relation to compliance with the ACL. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification of the law applicable to your business and/or review of any standard form contracts that you are presently utilising. December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 15
VW’s Classic Kombi
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HE VOLKSWAGEN KOMBI has got to be one of the most iconic vehicles of all time. The jolly-faced van has lodged in our collective consciousness, representing a fun-loving past as either a surfer’s home from home, a hippy’s favourite hideout or a cheap and cheerful option for the adventurous family. More than 10 million of them were made following their introduction in Germany in 1950 and the last rolled out of the company’s Brazilian factory only in 2013. Called the Type 2 because it was the second vehicle built by Volkswagen ( following the Beetle), the Kombi’s birth would appear to have come about through necessity. The story goes that, following WWII, the clever chaps at VW’s Wolfsburg factory, needing to move parts, tools and supplies around the facility, converted a Beetle chassis into a small truck. In 1947, that truck caught the eye of a gentleman by the name of Ben Pon who developed the design further – putting the engine at the back and the driver and passenger over the front axle. The final product became the Transporter, a commercial van that was soon huffing and puffing its way across the world. It would, of course, become a major winner and a wide range of models soon sprouted up based on this initial design. Whether it be the early Split-Screen models (built from 1950 to 1967) or the later Bay Window model, the van spawned versions from the Panel Van to the Micro Bus, from the Pickup Truck to the High Roof Van and, once it began to get into the hands of coachbuilding companies such as Westfalia and Danbury, the version which we most associate with the model - the Campervan.
16 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
For Nick Parker-Davies, the VW Kombi is a passion. Along with wife Keri, Nick has been restoring them at his business, the Kombi Shop, in Doonan on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for 12 years. His passion for the Kombi goes back further than that though. He bought his first when he was a 21-year-old mechanic in Macclesfield, England, and the reaction to that first restoration saw Kombi fans flocking to his shop in the UK. Within a short time his business had morphed from a general mechanical business to one that specialised in Kombi restorations and conversions. Upon moving to Australia’s Sunshine Coast in 2004, Nick and Keri started the business up once more and they haven’t looked back, their full-service offering being snapped up by Kombi tragics from across the country and, in just over a decade, the business has transformed into the largest VW Kombi restoration shop in the southern hemisphere. Not surprisingly, the couple – and their sons Connor and Jamie who also work at the business - own Kombis too. This one, a 1965 split-screen model, came into their possession relatively recently. However, they have been associated with it for much longer than that. “We have owned it for about two years but we’ve been involved with it for about seven,” says Nick. “It originally came to us as a restoration job from a customer. He was working in the mines and, unfortunately, when the mines went a bit pear-shaped he fell on hard times and we ended up buying it from him mid-restoration.
MAKE: VOLKSWAGEN MODEL: TYPE 2 SPLIT SCREEN YEAR: 1965 ENGINE: 1600CC TWIN-PORT (TYPE 1 MOTOR) OWNER: NICK PARKER-DAVIES OWNED SINCE: 2014
“We finished the work, including painting it back to the colour it is today, and then sold it to a guy in NSW. We were building him a Kombi too, a Bay window, and when he came in to see us about that van he fell in love with this split-screen and bought it. “His circumstances changed as well, and we eventually bought it back from him too. It’s like the boomerang kombi!” Named ‘Macca’ after the friend from whom they bought it, the van was a full, ground-up restoration, and passed through every department of Nick’s Kombi Shop business – from fabrication shop to paint shop, from mechanical shop to trim and cabinetry. By the end of the long process, the result was a fantastic classic that stands as a testament to the skills of Nick and his staff and is a rolling billboard for the business. “When we park it in town and leave it for a while we will often return to find a crowd of people standing around it taking photographs and waiting to chat about it,” says Nick. “That is fantastic, of course, and is the reaction we hope to achieve with all the vehicles we restore.” That appreciation goes beyond ‘Macca’. Many of the vans that have been through the Kombi Shop ‘experience’ have come out the other side and scooped up awards at shows around the country. Though Nick doesn’t take part in them himself, he is pleased to know his creations make their mark. “We do keep an eye on these things but often it’s our customers who call us to let us know when their Kombi has won something. It’s always nice to hear about them and, of course, they are a great advertisement for the business.” In recent times, how the public views the Kombi
DO YOU HAVE A PRIDE AND JOY IN THE GARAGE THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN THE PAGES OF MOTOR TRADER?
has evolved dramatically. Just a decade ago, a Kombi campervan Contact Jonathan Nash at jonathann@ could be picked mtaq.com.au or 07 3237 8721 and let’s up for around the see if we can share your classic $10,000 mark and with other members. they were viewed as a rather quaint vehicle – a reminder of an amiable and freedom-loving past. However, today, things couldn’t be more different. They are now a serious investment opportunity and last year a rare 1960 ‘Samba’ model sold for more than $200,000 at a Shannons auction. Owning a Kombi might now be a nifty investment option but, says Nick, there’s more to a Kombi than its increasing value. “The value of them does keep rising and it is a smart financial decision to restore them,” he says. “But, as an owner, not only are you driving around in something that is appreciating every year, it is also the most usable of vehicles. It’s not a sports car which your family can’t get into. With a Kombi, the whole family can go camping, the kids love it . . . everybody loves it. It is the most usable of vans.” December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 17
Can you afford not to be in the circle? Advocacy
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ESSENTIALS ESSENTIALS
PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER MTA INSTITUTE
Contents 19 Training GM's Professional Circle perspective 20 Professional Circle training 22 Member matters 27 Member profiles
AS AUTO & SPARES POWER CURVE PERFORMANCE
28 Industrial relations
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ELL HERE IT is, the end of the year, and for those of you taking a well-earned break, enjoy the festivities. Looking to the new year, you might be considering putting on an apprentice. Employing an apprentice in your automotive business has many rewards and there are a range of financial incentives that may be available to you from the Queensland and federal government when you employ an apprentice or trainee. These include: • School to Trade Pathway Incentive Scheme (Queensland), that makes financial contributions for schoolbased apprentices. Visit training.qld. gov.au/apprentices/incentives/schooltrade for more information on this incentive. • Employers may be eligible to receive incentive payments under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program. More information can be found at australianapprenticeships.gov.au/employers • Australian Government financial support is available for adult workers (aged 25 years or over) to upgrade their skills through an apprenticeship for occupations listed here australianapprenticeships.gov.au/ national-skills-needs-list
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 19
E S S E N T I A L S
MEMBERS MEMBERS
• Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) is available from the federal government where assistance can be available to employers who employ an eligible apprentice with disability. Read more at australianapprenticeships.gov. au/programs/support-australian-apprenticesdisability Apart from financial incentives there are other benefits for employers to put on an apprentice or trainee: • It is an effective way to attract and recruit staff as employers view apprenticeships and traineeships as an integral component of their workforce recruitment strategy. Employers train the person within their work environment in areas where skills are required. • It is a catalyst for rethinking systems and processes. Employers have reported that training an apprentice or trainee often encourages staff to rethink and challenge existing work practices. Productivity improvements can be an unexpected consequence of employing an apprentice or trainee. • It can contribute to the community as schoolbased apprenticeships or traineeships can make a real difference in motivating young people to complete school and work towards a future goal. • It results in employer satisfaction as employers and supervisors often experience a great deal of satisfaction during the process as they help apprentices and trainees mold new skills and gain confidence in a work environment. Visit apprenticeshipsinfo.qld.gov.au/ apprentices/financial-assistance/wagesconditions.html to find out more about wages, workers’ compensation, superannuation, tools entitlements and employee rights. Once again, from all of us at MTA Institute, we wish everyone a great break over the holiday.
M E M B E R S
Training GM's Professional Circle perspective
E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S
Professional Circle training
LUKE ROXBURGH: CATCHING UP WITH MTAQ’S 2015 APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Luke Roxburgh
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T HAS BEEN more than 12 months since Luke Roxburgh was named the 2015 MTAQ Apprentice of the Year. It was a massive night for the then 28-year-old, a high point on a long and painful road to becoming a mechanic – a journey he had started more than a decade earlier. Luke had, you may remember, been involved in a terrible accident when he was just 17. Back then, he had just started his mechanical apprenticeship but the injuries he sustained after being hit by, and subsequently trapped beneath, a train meant he was unable to continue in his chosen career. In fact, Luke was lucky to be alive. His injuries were so severe that he spent eight months in hospital, another year wheelchair-bound and had to teach himself to become left-handed. Although 12 years have passed since then, he still feels the effect of those injuries – pain is a constant companion. A skilled technician and dedicated employee of Absolute Car Care in Brisbane, Luke’s commitment to his trade was a major reason for the Apprentice of the Year recognition and, a year on from the 2015 President’s Ball, he is in high spirits. 20 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
Luke receives the 2015 MTAQ Apprentice of the Year Award from MTAA Super CEO Leeanne Turner
He has just started his fourth year as a light vehicle apprentice and is on track to complete in 2017 – an end date that was, when he rebooted his apprenticeship in 2013, considered an unlikely goal. “Some days are quick, some days are slow but I seem to be able to do the work just as quickly as everyone else,” he said. “I haven’t had any operations for a while and although things haven’t really got any easier, I have found ways around them to be able to do the job.” After an initial flurry of activity following his award win last year – including a number of newspaper and radio interviews during which, he joked, he felt like a ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ – Luke said things had soon returned to normal. However, though life at the workshop may have returned to normal, the award has led to significant changes personally. “Being recognised with the MTAQ Apprentice of the Year award really motivated me,” he said. “It has given me more confidence and made me even more determined to finish my apprenticeship. “And winning the $2000 that came with the award helped me to buy some
Snap-On tools,” he added. “I could have spent that money on anything but I use those tools every day and it certainly makes life easier having a decent set of tools.” Winning a prestigious accolade such as the MTAQ Apprentice of the Year award is a rock-solid foundation for a stellar career and while that is a likely outcome for Luke, his past has shown him not to take anything for granted. Immediately following last year’s win, he stated he was focused on just one thing: ”I haven’t thought past finishing my apprenticeship,” he said at the time. “That’s my goal and that’s all I’m determined to do at the moment.” Today, Luke is still focused on reaching that same milestone. “I just want to finish my apprenticeship,” he said. “It’s the only goal I have and I am not thinking beyond it.” As for future Apprentice of the Year winners – in fact, any apprentice the 2015 winner has a few short words of advice. “Never give up,” he said. “Just keep going. You have good days and bad days but you just have to keep going.”
APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH - OCTOBER work. He also helps people without being asked and has even made and laminated a list of torque settings commonly used on the motorcycles he works on.” Attention to detail like that has marked 18-yearold Tom as an apprentice to watch. Working with motorcycles was always on the cards. Growing up on acreage meant there was plenty of room for Tom to ride and he got his first bike at the age of six. “I thought about getting into the industry for a long time because I was always around them,” he said. “I had a little Chinese bike that I was riding around on when I was younger and it was always breaking so I was constantly tinkering around with it.’ That experience led him to D&R Motorcycles.
“I was still at school when I first came here to do a traineeship,” he said. “After that, I came in to the shop after school from Monday to Friday, and then came on full time. When one of the fellows here left the business, I came on as an apprentice.” With two years with D&R already under his belt and many more years spent ‘tinkering’ on his own bikes – including the four that he currently owns Thomas said things were going well and he was really enjoying the job. “I’ve been doing all the regular work such as servicing and top-end rebuilds,” he said. “And it’s a lot of fun to do - there is always something different coming through the shop.”
Pratt, his MTA Institute trainer. “He has carried out his assessments and completed his learning guide to the highest standard and when I have observed him dealing with customers he goes beyond the standard one might expect. He has a mature and positive attitude which is great to see." Mario was brought up in a family that loved cars and it was natural for him to move into the industry. However, finding the right sector within the industry took a little while and he only moved into Parts after first spending time as a mechanical apprentice.
“I grew up around a lot of different cars, both old and new and, with my father being a mechanic, it felt comfortable to work in the industry," he said. “I was in my third year as a mechanical apprentice when I realised that, as an everyday job, that wasn’t for me and that I enjoyed that side of things more as a hobby. “I am really enjoying the work and the training in Parts Interpreting. I am dealing with lots of people and oversee the parts counter serving customers and assisting them with finding and ordering parts for their Toyota or Mazda."
APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER
MTAI TRAINER PROFILE
MARIO TESTA is the Apprentice of the Month for November. The 22-year-old, first-year Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreting) apprentice, who works for Oldmac Toyota in Mario Testa Brisbane, has set high standards in customer service and is exceling in the requirements of his training. “Mario has done exceptional work,” said Derrick
MARCELLO RIOTTO
northside dealership and a stint as a mobile mechanic. Technical writer for six years with an innovative research and development company developing automotive software programs to diagnose Electronic Control Units and associated systems. Currently at MTAI as the Operations Manager. However, I’ve performed various roles during my 14 years here including Training Officer, Training Development Manager and Business Development Manager.
What is your specialised area? Jack of all trades, master of none, but pretty handy with electronic management systems.
What is your background in the automotive industry? Pre-vocational course in 1987, then an apprentice mechanic from 1988-1991. Technician for six years in various locations including another small garage, a large
When did you become a trainer for MTA Institute? 2003.
What geographical area do you service? I looked after the north-side of Brisbane while I was training but now I’m based at Head Office in Eight Mile Plains.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your role as a trainer for MTA Institute? Seeing young boys and girls grow into
Ky King mature men and women and knowing
I made a slight contribution to their development.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of training? Look, listen, ask questions, then practice, practice, practice!
Why should someone consider a career in the automotive industry? It’s rewarding, dynamic and everchanging.
What is the best piece of advice you can give to an apprentice starting out in the industry? Hard work and commitment will pay off. When you finish your apprenticeship you are still just starting out and have a lifetime of learning to look forward to.
When you’re not training, what do you like to do? Look after a young family and tinker on cars when I can.
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 21
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THOMAS MALONEY IS the Apprentice of the Month for October. The first-year motorcycle technology apprentice works for D&R Motorcycles in Roma and though Thomas Maloney he is only halfway through his first year, he is already proving to be a dedicated and gifted apprentice. “Tom is already performing top-end engine rebuilds, suspension and final drive repairs,” said Zak Zuiderduin, his MTA Institute trainer. “He has a high level of energy and puts a lot of effort into his book
M E M B E R S
Apprentice of the month
E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S
Member matters
MCCARTHY PANEL WORKS SCORES HAT-TRICK AT PAINT & PANEL AWARDS “ M TA QUEENSLAND MEMBER McCarthy Panel Works has recorded a hat-trick of wins at the prestigious Paint & Panel Awards, held in Sydney in October. The Mackay-based business won national recognition in the Glasurit Best Country Repairer category, Best Customer Experience category, and Community Hero category. It was a sensational result for the 14 members of the McCarthy Panel Works team, and especially for owners Craig and Andrea McCarthy. Andrea, who is a member of the MTA Queensland’s National Auto Collision Alliance (NACA) committee, was thrilled and a little shocked with the result. "We were surprised to be so successful,” she said. “We obviously
WE OBVIOUSLY KNEW WE WERE IN WITH A CHANCE BECAUSE THEY INVITED US TO THE EVENT, BUT THERE ARE SOME SUPERB REPAIRERS OUT THERE DOING GREAT WORK, SO TO WIN WAS VERY NICE.”
knew we were in with a chance because they invited us to the event, but there are some superb repairers out there doing great work so to win was very nice.” McCarthy Panel Works has been
HHARVEY COLLISION REPAIRS SNAGS BEST IN QUEENSLAND AWARD HHARVEY COLLISION REPAIRS in Upper Coomera on Queensland’s Gold Coast picked up the Best New Shop in Queensland gong at the recent Paint & Panel Awards. The workshop, which opened in January 2016, is a state-of-the-art facility that utilises the very latest technology and equipment and to receive the award was, said manager Mark Drennan, a great win and deserved recognition for the dedication of his team. “We put in a lot of hard work at the shop, and when you put in a lot of hard work and get recognised for that, then it is all worthwhile,” he said. HHarvey Collision Repairs has included many innovations into its 22 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
Mark Drennan (left)
facility - including the use of nitrotherm technology instead of compressed air and new booths that, thanks to a system that allows for consistent heat throughout the booth, cuts drying time
extremely proactive in staying at the cutting-edge of the paint and panel industry. Three years ago, the business became the first in Queensland to attain I-CAR Gold Class Professional status and, in recent months, expansion has seen the addition of a new facility with investment in the latest technology – including a Junair 5-series spray booth, LED lighting to reduce energy consumption, dust extraction units and a focus on environmental control. Recognition in three categories is proof of how much effort the team at McCarthy Panel Works has put into providing the best service to customers as well as in connecting with their community. "It is nice to be recognised for
to 20 minutes. That system has allowed a small workforce to deliver excellent quality of workmanship with reduced turnaround times. “The work that we can put through in a week thanks to technology is phenomenal,” said Mark. “We have three panel beaters and one painter and we are completing 25-30 cars a week. That is pretty impressive for such a small number of staff and that comes down to the technology.” Now an award-winning business after just 11 months in operation, Mark said the focus would be on providing consistent service and quality and being mindful of what improvements would be best for the business’s future. “We will roll with the times and embrace whatever new technology will work for our shop and our customers,” he said.
Craig and Andrea McCarthy
Customer Excellence,” said Andrea. “The end-game is to do the job right for the customer and that is what we do. We get cars back on the road and do it safely, as economically as possible and get them back to clients without compromise. "It is great to be recognised within the industry but the awards will also help to raise public awareness about what we do and how we do it – they allow us to say we have been nationally recognised for what we do and that customers should come and check us out and see what we can offer.” “The Community Service award was special too,” added Andrea. “We are involved with many local charities, schools and so on, and one of our recent projects was the restoration of a van for a suicide prevention program.” While snagging three national awards might indicate that there isn’t much to improve on at McCarthy Panel Works, Andrea said that developing and progressing the business was always a priority. "Improvements can always be made,” she said. “We've just renovated and built our new facility and our focus will be to get the processes running smoothly and encouraging customers to our door. It's also important for manufacturers to understand that even though we are a regional business we can service their clients as well as any metro business can.”
“THE END-GAME IS
TO DO THE JOB RIGHT FOR THE CUSTOMER AND THAT IS WHAT WE DO. WE GET CARS BACK ON THE ROAD AND DO IT SAFELY, AS ECONOMICALLY AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEM BACK TO CLIENTS WITHOUT COMPROMISE.” The past few weeks have been successful not only for the McCarthy Panel Works team collectively but also for Andrea personally. She was nominated for the 2016 Women In Smash award - an award that ‘recognises the determined and successful women that make the Australian smash repair industry successful’. Andrea said she was very honoured to have been a finalist, adding that helping the industry to develop and evolve was important to her. “Part of the reason I joined the MTAQ committee was because I wanted to see if there was a way I could help the industry and help to drive it forward. All the other ladies who were nominated are quite amazing and I do think it is great we are being recognised.”
IT HAS BEEN a very strong, award-winning year for Brisbane-based MTA Queensland member John Edwards Automotive. In August, business owner John Edwards picked up the award for Small Employer of the Year at the metropolitan region finals of the Queensland Training Awards. A month later, he was on stage again to accept the award in the same category, but this time for the whole of Queensland. And on November 18, John was in Darwin to attend the Australian Training Awards after being shortlisted from amongst the best small employers from each state and territory in the country. It was a brilliant achievement to be shortlisted at a national level and although he didn’t pick up the nation’s top prize, there was plenty to take away from the two-day trip to the Top End. The event was not just about handing out awards. There were presentations and forums to attend as well as the opportunity to meet and network with other finalists and exchange ideas about the future of training. “On the Thursday, the organisers held a skills development course designed to help the government set policy agendas for where they want VET training to go,” said John. “We were invited to attend and to put forward some ideas and express any concerns we had about the system and how we think it could be improved. “And it was really good to have some time with the other finalists and talk about our approaches to training. We also got to spend a bit of time with the Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year and Indigenous Trainee of the Year candidates. That was very inspiring as they were all intelligent, switched-on young people who know where they want to go and are using the VET system to get there.” Perhaps what John found most valuable from the event though, was that it reinforced his own attitude to the value of training – that without it, a business just cannot be successful. “Although resources for a business our size are limited, the quality of the businesses that were at the Awards showed that investing in training is important even in this tight economic climate. For us it has become even more of an imperative to keep going rather than cut back. If you want to have a quality business, training is vital.”
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 23
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AWARD-WINNING YEAR SEES JOHN EDWARDS REACH NATIONAL TRAINING AWARDS FINALE
M E M B E R S
John Edwards
E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S
Members matters
DRAG RACING A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR RACE SERIES CHAMP P AUL WINKEL LIKES to drive fast. Really fast. The 33-year-old auto electrician who, with wife Tanya, owns PTW Auto Electrical ( formerly Rayners Auto Electrical) in Roma, has been involved in drag racing for most of his adult life and recently wrapped up victory in the JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, winning three of the four rounds of the Queensland-based competition in the Modified Bracket category. Held at Willowbank, Warwick, Paul Winkel (left) has won the 2016 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series Benaraby and Roma’s Ironbark Raceway, the series is fiercely contested and with the shortened on-track distance of one-eighth of a I’VE HAD THAT CAR mile (to accommodate the smaller A LITTLE BIT OVER 12 regional track lengths) the times set MONTHS AND THE FIRST to cover that distance are ridiculously quick. Driving a new 450hp machine RACE I RAN IT IN WAS AT in this year’s competition, Paul was WARWICK IN THE FIRST covering the distance in about six ROUND OF THE SERIES seconds, reaching more than 110mph . . . AND I CAME AWAY (177km/h) as he did so. “I’ve had that car a little bit over 12 WITH THE WIN! months and the first race I ran it in
“
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24 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
was at Warwick in the first round of the series,” said Paul. “And I came away with the win!” Paul’s car is known as an ‘altered’ in the drag racing world, and he bought it race-ready. “I actually found it on eBay and it was a ‘turn-key’ set-up,” he said. “It has a Ford T-bucket style fibreglass body to dress the cabin, has a 350 Chev stroked to 383 cubic inches and runs on petrol. It has a decent set of heads, rods and pistons and runs about 450hp at the wheels. “It really isn’t that expensive a category to be involved in,” he added. “There are categories in which the cars are very high maintenance – such as alcohol fuelled cars – but this one is really just like jumping into a normal car and all I have to do is normal oil changes and so on.” The title-winning car is not the only drag car Paul owns. He also runs a rear-engine dragster that he built himself over a period of a couple of years. Not quite as powerful as his new
M E M B E R S E S S E N T I A L S
Paul Winkel
car, it has served him and his family well . . . perhaps too well. “That one I bought as a chassis off some friends and built the motor for it,” he said. “It has a 202 in it – an old Holden motor - it runs on alcohol and nitrous and it does look cool! Tanya drives it now and, hopefully, she will be able to enter some competitions next year. She is quick in it and actually, and this is a bit of a sore point, she beat me the first time we raced against each other! There was only a tenth of a second in it but she doesn’t let me forget it and neither does anyone else!” Drag racing has been a passion of Paul’s since his teenage years and there is an amusing connection between it and his chosen auto electrical profession. “When I left school I had no idea what I wanted to do,” he says. “Funnily enough, the first Fast and Furious film came out the year after I left school and as well as the racing in the film there is a scene where the characters are walking down an alleyway looking at cars which have massive sound systems. When I watched that scene, I thought to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do – build that stuff, those systems’! However, it turned out that there was no trade for that. The closest thing was auto electrical, so I went down that path. “As for racing, the first car I had was a Nissan Pulsar into which I put a fuelinjected turbo motor. A friend of mine was into V8s and we became great rivals
“WE ARE PRETTY BUSY RUNNING THE BUSINESS BUT DRAG RACING IS A GREAT FAMILY PASTIME THAT WE CAN ALL DO TOGETHER AND IT’S GREAT THAT EVERYBODY GETS INVOLVED AND HELPS ONE ANOTHER.” and raced against each other often. The whole thing developed from there.” These days, Paul doesn’t compete as often as he might like – his growing PTW Auto Electrical business keeps him pretty busy. “We bought the business six years ago from a gentleman who was retiring and who had been running it for 35 years,” he says. “It was a big step when we bought it but we have steadily grown and we now have three blokes working with me in the workshop and a couple of office staff. We’ve grown enough that we have built a big shed on the block and the original building is now our parts room. Things are going well but it has been hard work!” While the thriving business means putting the brakes on his racing ambitions, Paul’s passion for drag racing is clear. He is the vice-president of the local club in Roma and was involved with wiring the timing system at the local Ironbark track – a job that
Tanya Winkel
keeps him busy on track days as he takes time to make sure the system is running smoothly between races. For Paul, drag racing is more than just a sport. There is, he said, a tremendous bond between the enthusiasts who take part and it has become an activity his whole family enjoys - Tanya has been bitten by the racing bug, the couple’s eldest daughter is showing plenty of interest and Tanya’s father also participates, running a 2500hp monster in another vehicle class. “Drag racing has a tight-knit community and it almost isn’t about the racing but about the people you meet and get to hang out with,” he said. “We are pretty busy running the business but drag racing is a great family pastime that we can all do together and it’s great that everybody gets involved and helps one another.” With his drag racing season now over, Paul is looking forward to another successful year in 2017, although some recent unrest within the sport means he is uncertain exactly what events will be held and in which he can complete. “There is a bit of turmoil in the drag racing scene with different sanctioning bodies and that has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works,” he said. “We will see what happens but it’s a bit of a waiting game at the moment.” However next season takes shape, and whatever competitions are held, one thing would seem to be clear, Paul and his family will be there. December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 25
E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S
Members matters
BUSINESSES UNITE FOR 'AUTO EXTRAVAGANZA' F INDING WAYS TO promote and market the products and services a business provides is an important aspect of the work of any owner. Be it through traditional advertising such as newspapers, new avenues such as social media, or via events such as auto shows and opendays, getting the name and brand of a business in front of the public is vital. Last month, a group of six automotive businesses – Sureline Body Repairs, Archerfield Auto & Marine Upholsterers, Elite Automotive, Custom Extreme Engineering, Red Devil Radiators and Air Conditioning and Coopers Plains Auto Electrical – all of whom are experts in separate automotive fields and are located on the same street in the Brisbane suburb of Archerfield, came together to hold an event designed to do just that. Called the Archerfield Auto Extravaganza, the open-day event was the brainchild of Paul and Jacinda Dawson, owners of Sureline Body Repairs, and was inspired by the cooperative relationship between the businesses - a relationship that has seen their street become a one-stop shop for anyone looking for a full range of automotive services. “It occurred to me that we all work together,” said Paul. “We are all very good at what we do and we all have great confidence in each other, and if one us needs something done that one of the others can provide, then we will recommend them to our customers.” With a working relationship like that, coming together on an idea such as the Auto Extravaganza was a given and the group worked on delivering a
Jacinda and Paul Dawson from Sureline Body Repairs were the driving force behind the Auto Extravaganza event
Paul Koutsoukos from Elite Automotive with his HSV E3 GTS. The car ran an 11:8 at the 2012 Hot Tuner Challenge, making it the fastest HSV ever tested.
family-friendly and entertaining event. They brought together some beautiful vehicles to highlight their work, and also approached their individual suppliers for items to put in giveaway bags for those who attended the event. “We had support from companies including Downtown Toyota, Q Ford, Colourfast Auto & Industrial and R&J Batteries that meant we had some quality items to give away,” said Paul. “Prestige Paint & Panel also donated a door prize of Juice car cleaning and detailing products worth $500.”
John White from Archerfield Auto & Marine Upholsterers did the trim work on these stunning classic vehicles.
Jennine Kearley, Bill Kearley and Kathy Griffin from Red Devil Radiators and Air Conditioning were on hand to run the charity sausage sizzle.
The group also put on a barbecue, with the funds going to the RSPCA. Pleased with how this inaugural event was received, Paul said the Auto Extravaganza may become a regular feature on all their calendars. “People from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast called to say they would attend,” he said. “And even though there was some rain in the morning that stopped a few people from coming, it was a great success and we will look at holding another Extravaganza in a few months’ time.”
and information and the technical info service – far outweigh the costs. It pays for itself.
Commencing operations at our new, bigger and better premises at the start of October.
What is the best thing about working in your industry? Working with the new technology in modern vehicles and the sense of achievement when diagnosing and solving problems and issues.
AS Auto & Spares Business name: AS Auto & Spares Location: Tully, Far North Queensland Type of business: Mechanical Repairs and Spare Parts Number of employees: 4 Trading since: 2002 MTAQ member since: 2002
What is the best piece of business advice you have ever given or been given? How did you hear about the Motor Trades Association of Queensland? (MTAQ) The previous business owner was a member.
How has being an MTAQ member benefited your business?
It’s impossible to move forward until you stop looking back.
What would you say to someone thinking about joining MTAQ? Definitely go ahead and join. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do and you will not regret it.
Dramatically! The benefits - including legal advice, industrial relations advice
What has been your proudest business achievement to date? To be able to tune, convert, build and modify peoples’ dreams to reality is our best achievement. We recently expanded our premises and are looking forward to this new chapter.
What is the best thing about working in your industry? The excitement each day brings. We work with a vast range of vehicles from 4wd, speedway and burn-out cars to caravan tow vehicles and we get to enhance them to their utmost. Who wouldn't love being a part of that?
Power Curve Performance Location: Nambour Type of business: Automotive Performance and Dyno tuning Number of employees: 3 Trading since: 2013 MTAQ member since: 2016
How did you hear about the Motor Trades Association of Queensland? (MTAQ)
Our fantastic business friends from Pro Check Automotive, who have found MTAQ invaluable to their business, prompted us to come on board.
How has being an MTAQ member benefited your business? MTAQ have taken the stress out of employment and subsequent legalities, letting us focus on building a great team to better service our customers.
What is the best piece of business advice you have ever given or been given? Life is always about striving and growing. I never want to have made it, I want to continue making it.
What would you say to someone thinking about joining MTAQ? MTAQ takes away the unknown - no one starts an automotive business to do paperwork - and lets us focus on what we are here to do.
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 27
E S S E N T I A L S
What has been your proudest business achievement to date?
M E M B E R S
Member profiles
E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S
Industrial relations
T
HE FESTIVE SEASON is here again and no doubt many members are looking forward to celebrating with their employees. Work Christmas functions are good for morale, a nice way to say thanks for the efforts put in over the year and, of course, fun. There are a few things you can do though to minimise the risks that come with any workrelated celebrations. You still have work health and safety obligations towards anyone who attends a work Christmas party, even if it’s being held away from the usual place of work. There are also the everyday employer responsibilities for potential behavioural problems such as harassment, discrimination, and other disciplinary matters. Your duty of care requires you to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of attendees. You should make sure of the following: The event should be held at a safe venue, which is easy to get to and home from safely. That could include arranging transport, or just making sure that employees can get taxis home. Alcohol consumption shouldn’t be excessive. This starts with management setting a good example, and can also include making sure there are bartenders to serve employees, or other ways of controlling how much individuals consume, and that those serving the drinks understand the basic
PAUL MURRAY INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS OFFICER
principles of responsible service of alcohol. The usual rules about not serving minors or anyone who is intoxicated apply. It is always a good idea to have plenty to eat and lots of soft drink alternatives available. Just as a work party at an external venue can count as happening “at work”, your obligations can, in some circumstances, also apply if employees decide to “kick on” afterwards. You should therefore make it clear, in writing, that the event ceases at the end of the function and that you do not condone or encourage any further celebrations. Providing transport home at the end of the event can help here too. It’s also a good idea to remind staff, preferably in writing, about existing workplace policies on bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination. If you don’t yet have a policy on social media, now would be a good time to introduce one. All staff should be made aware that the usual rules about acceptable behaviour apply at the Christmas party as apply at work the rest of the year, and that this includes responsible use of social media. If everyone behaves responsibly and remembers to treat their colleagues with the respect and courtesy that they would in the workplace, there’s no reason why you can’t have a trouble-free celebration of the end to a hard year’s work.
MTA QUEENSLAND WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS Business Name
Principal/s
Address
Division
Boost Smash Repairs Burgess Motors Burpengary Truck Refinishing Central Motors Winton Classy Cars / Saab Automotive Services East Coast Engine Centre G-Force Motors Pty Ltd McDowalls Panel Works Midas Maroochydore Moorooka Car Clinic Muffler Madness Ritchie Auto Electrics Scooter Style Silver Fox Tyre Centre Southeast Auto Mechanical Steerite Mechancial & Exhaust Centre Tyres for Bikes Ultra Tune Beenleigh
David Allan Adrienne Bradbury Luke Mille Adrian Lenton Paul Bird Andrew Pickering Jonny Wei Aaron Murtagh Jeremy Hardwick Shaun Charlton Merisa Hall Mark Ritchie Andrea Porter Ross Renall Fionna Blackburn John Staib Anja Nilson Scott Ryder
116-118 Bailey Road, DECEPTION BAY Q 4508 14 Osona Street, PINKENBA Q 4008 21 Reynolds Court, BURPENGARY Q 4505 81 Elderslie Street, WINTON Q 4735 25 Queens Road, EVERTON HILLS Q 4103 52-56 Arundell Avenue, NAMBOUR Q 4560 3 Standish Street, SALISBURY Q 4107 5 Nicol Street, PROSERPINE Q 4800 2/28 Maud Street, MARYOOCHYDORE Q 4558 4 Lucy Street, MOOROOKA Q 4105 16 Tradelink Road, BROWNS PLAINS Q 4118 4 Monte Street, SLACKS CREEK Q 4127 16 Rene Street, NOOSAVILLE Q 4566 2/196 Anzac Avenue, KIPPA-RING Q 4021 3/2 Spanns Road, BEENLEIGH Q 4207 49-51 Clifford Street, TOOWOOMBA Q 4350 14 Gore Street, ALBION Q 4010 2/131 George Street, BEENLEIGH Q 4207
boostsmashrefinishers@gmail.com admin@burgessmotors.com.au sales@burpengarytrucks.com.au centralmotors@outlook.com.au sales@classycars.com.au eastcoastengine@uptusnet.com.au gforcemotors.com.au@gmail.com mcdowallspanel@bigpond.com sales@maroochydore.midas.com.au car.clinic@optusnet.com.au mufflermadness@outlook.com mark@ritchieautoelectrics.com.au Info@scooterstyle.com.au silverfoxtyres@silverfoxtyres.com.au admin@seauto.com.au Steerite.workshop@westnet.com.au rob@tyres4bikes.com.au beenleigh@ultratune.com.au
NACA AED NACA AED AED ERAQ AED NACA AED AED AED AED TUDQ AED AED AED TUDQ AED
28 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
Investment matters
MARKET WRAP
G
LOBAL EQUITY MARKETS showed large dispersion in returns during October. European and Japanese markets benefited from currency weakness and Chinese equities were higher on positive growth data. The US was down over 2% due to rising longer-term bond yields and uncertainty heading into the US election. The ASX 200 Accumulation Index closed down 2.2% for the month. There was broad sector weakness and Property Trusts and Telecommunications continue to underperform as bond yields rise. The Australian market was focused on the annual general meeting season, with most corporates erring on the side of caution. The US election turned out to be another unexpected result for markets this year. Markets initially reacted sharply as the likelihood of a Trump victory increased, however it settled as realisation of the policy implications of a Republican-controlled Senate were considered. Reviewing the Republican policy agenda reveals a mixed outcome, but overall it would appear to be an inflationary/growth driven agenda. The longer term impact on the market will be dictated by the performance of Trump’s economic policies. In terms of the major policy implications, we need to consider his ability to get his policies through the Senate and the House of Representatives (House). While these will be controlled by Republicans, many Senators and Congressmen will be hostile towards Trump and so it is not a foregone conclusion that his policies will pass. The economic policies will most likely be influenced by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who sees economic management as one of his specialist areas.
KEY POINTS IN TRUMP’S ECONOMIC AGENDA • P rotectionist policies. It is safe to assume that the trade agreement with the Pacific will not pass. However, it is not clear whether Trump will be able to pass more of his aggressive protectionist policies that will harm US allies. This is the largest risk area of a Trump presidency but it is also the area in which he will most likely face the greatest opposition from other members of the Congress. His policies in this regard are more closely aligned to that of left-wing unions than that of a conservative, free-trade Republican Senator. • Tax cut. Trump plans to reduce corporate taxation to a rate of 15% (which was borrowed from Paul Ryan’s economic policies and is therefore likely to be passed by the House and the Senate). The purpose of this reduction is to make sure that US multinational companies bring their funds back to the US and reinvest them in the domestic economy. Tax cuts would be a positive for companies operating in the US (increasing earnings by 20%) and would be positive for the US$ as we would be likely to see cash repatriated to the US. • Infrastructure spending to increase. There are plans to revitalise airports, roads and build a wall. The US corporate tax rates proposed within the Trump program would increase US private fixed capital investment in the US economy. • Defence spending to increase. While Trump does not have expansionist ambitions, he has spoken of higher defence spending and this is aligned to Republican interests.
• Less regulation of banks and healthcare and the repeal of Obamacare is positive for banks and healthcare companies operating in the US. • Higher interest rates. Trump policies appear inflationary—lower tax rates, lower deregulation and higher infrastructure and defence spending. This is further enhanced if he is successful in forcing protectionist policies through. We believe this will drive higher interest rates over time. • Trade. Global trade is on the decline and future trade deals will be under threat. This is a negative for Australia but will potentially be offset by the resource-intensive growth agenda in the US. The impact of a Trump victory is lower risk than Brexit. We are not dealing with a leading nation having to unravel a complex economic agreement. Further, the tax cuts will provide a significant boost to earnings and stimulus to the largest economy in the world. DISCLAIMER This document has been prepared by DNR Capital Pty Ltd, AFS Representative - 294844 of DNR AFSL Pty Ltd ABN 39 118 946 400, AFSL 301658. It is general information only and is not intended to be a recommendation to invest in any product or financial service mentioned above. Whilst DNR Capital has used its best endeavours to ensure the information within this document is accurate it cannot be relied upon in any way and recipients must make their own enquiries concerning the accuracy of the information within. The general information in this document has been prepared without reference to any recipients objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any financial investment decisions we recommend recipients obtain legal and taxation advice appropriate to their particular needs. Investment in a DNR Capital managed account can only be made on completion of all the required documentation.
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 29
Concept corner
Mopar-modified 1971 Dodge Challenger
MOPAR’S SHAKEDOWN CHALLENGER
S
OMETHING SPECIAL IS always revealed at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The show brings together aftermarket manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, specialists in restoration, car dealers, retailers and more in an event that is the world’s premier automotive specialty products trade event. There was plenty to get excited about at this year’s event, held at the beginning of November, and though it’s a tough call to pick one from the many, this Mopar-modified Dodge Challenger is a definite jaw-dropper. A classic 1971 Challenger on the 30 | Motor Trader December 2016/January 2017
outside – painted in an unusuallynamed colour called ‘Bitchin’ Black’ with black and red pinstripes – the modifications underneath are legion. Built on a unique, hand-built frame, the Challenger is powered by a 485hp 6.4-litre Hemi V8, hidden beneath the shaker hood, which is harnessed to a Viper Tremec T6060 six-speed transmission. Its front and rear suspension has been lowered - a feature which, the company says, will allow the car to tackle Pro Touring/Drift-type motorsports competition. That lean towards motorsport use is followed up on the inside where a roll cage has been installed and the back seats have disappeared in favour of netting and a
console shelf for storing race essentials. Also on the inside, there’s the modern touch of carbon fibre, as well Dodge Viper front seats re-trimmed in black leather with red stitching that continue the Challenger’s menacing appeal. Braking power is supplied by Brembo-red SRT Hellcat six-piston front brakes and four-piston rear brakes and the car sits on concept SRT Hellcat Slingshot-designed 19-inch by 9 1/2-inch front wheels and 20-inch by 9 1/2-inch rear wheels. It all adds up to a pretty brutallooking package that any petrolhead worth their salt would kill to get their hands on. We know we would.
IT ALL ADDS UP TO A PRETTY BRUTAL-LOOKING PACKAGE THAT ANY PETROLHEAD WORTH THEIR SALT WOULD KILL TO GET THEIR HANDS ON.
December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 31
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Industry insight
CONTROL STAFF AND SKILL SHORTAGES WITH GOOD SYSTEMS “ M OST SERVICE OR jobsbased businesses are trying to get more done with less resources. One of the key drivers in a service-based business is ‘Personnel Productivity’. Getting the most income and earning capacity from a given production staff/labour team is a constant management nightmare. One way to improve is to do less work but ensure it is more of the profitable or desirable work. You may have heard of the ‘Pareto Principle’, which is the 80/20 rule an example of which is 20 per cent of customers produce 80 per cent of sales and profit. The ‘Pareto Principle’ has proven valid since the late 1800s when it was discovered by Vilfredo Pareto – an economist. It follows then that we should concentrate on the 20 per cent of customers, jobs, services, staff etc that are producing the 80 per cent of results. In order to know what the 20 per cent are, we need systems in place for tracking results and who/ what is achieving them. If you could do this smartly, then you would probably need less resources to achieve better result You know it can be hard to extricate yourself from the business and find enough time to spend working ‘on’ the business rather than ‘in’ it. If you can be disciplined enough to do this it can pay big dividends in terms of improved efficiency, personal satisfaction and lifestyle for you, as well as better profit and cashflow.
WHAT YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE THESE BENEFITS … ARE GOOD SYSTEMS! In order to set up systems you must get the ‘knowledge’ out of your
STAFF WHO HAVE SYSTEMS TO FOLLOW FEEL MUCH MORE SECURE IN THEIR WORK AND CREATE LESS DISTRACTIONS. . . BUSINESSES WITH GOOD SYSTEMS AND HAPPY STAFF BECOME THE ‘EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE’.”
head and into a format that staff can understand and follow. You need to identify what are the most critical actions in your business, who is responsible for them and how they should be done. Once you know that, you can share this information with others and begin to do less of them yourself. Obviously, staff need to be trained and monitored in these actions but a little time invested in this area could pay big dividends down the track. Staff who have systems to follow feel much more secure in their work and create less distractions for themselves and others. Businesses with good systems and happy staff become the ‘employers of choice’. Who wants to work in a business environment where the norm is ‘crisis management’ and everyone is stressed and unhappy? Any ‘Human Resources’ expert will tell you money often comes way down on the list of motivators for staff. An example of critical actions in a service-based business is the fulfillment and management of jobs. If you have a good job management
system you have access to: • Information required for staff to do the job • Information about job profitability for the business owner • Information about hours paid to staff compared to those sold to customers to make improvements to margins • Information about ‘Work in Progress’ speeding up invoicing of jobs and improving cashflow Systems make it much easier to manage a business, as the manager doesn’t have to think of everything all the time, they simply point staff to the system. This leaves the business owner free to work ‘on’ the business rather than ‘in’ it. Documented systems also create an environment for improvement. It gives staff the opportunity to contribute new ideas and see them incorporated into the system – another motivator and retainer of good staff. Systems can take many forms e.g. manuals or a web-based method. Web-based methods for many business processes are popular today. They enable owners to run a business remotely when necessary e.g. when on holidays or even just from home. If a staff member has a question, you don’t have to scurry back to the office to explain the answer. You can simply direct them over the phone to the relevant information and talk them through it. These types of systems are not as expensive as you might think. What price do you put on your own sanity and health? Another benefit is in added value to your business. If you want to sell your business and retire or exit at some given future point, having systems is much more attractive to a buyer than a business that runs from inside the owner’s head. For more information, go to businessnumbersmadeeasy.com December 2016/January 2017 Motor Trader | 33
Craig Lowndes, TeamVortex
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Conditions apply, see mtaasuper.com.au/boost. Open to Aust. residents 18+ who are MTAA Superannuation Fund accumulation members (at time of entry & draw). MTAA Super pension fund members not eligible. Starts 31/10/16. Draw: L1/1A Homebrush Bay Dr, Rhodes, NSW 2138 at 3pm AEDST 9/2/17. Winner at website 16/2/17 (if from SA also in The Advertiser 17/2/17). Prize: $5,000 contribution into winner’s MTAA Superannuation Fund account. Promoter: Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited (ABN 14 008 650 628), 39 Brisbane Ave, Barton, ACT 2600. Permits: NSW LTPS/16/08637, ACT TP16/02158. This information is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any of the information you should consider its appropriateness, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. Please consider the MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement, which is available at mtaasuper.com.au/handbooks or by telephoning the Customer Service Centre on 1300 362 415.