7 minute read
column | BIC
A great opportunity
Our industry is part of Australia’s economic recovery story.
Michael Apps
BIC executive director
PO Box 6171, Kingston ACT 2604 p: 02 6247 5990 f: 02 6273 1035 e: admin@bic.asn.au I have no desire to add to the social or political commentary currently circulating the ‘epicentres’ of Covid-19 across the globe (and most recently on our own home turf). I will, however, make an obvious observation. Despite what has gone before, the Victorian government has pivoted and is trying (some may argue not efficiently) to get the state back to health. As I write this column, Victoria is barely into its first 24-hours of an expected six-week
‘lockdown’. We all need to acknowledge that times are especially tough for our colleagues and associates in Victoria and be ready to support our bus and coach friends now and after they emerge from their current predicament.
I think it is important to recognise that this pandemic came close to shutting down the entire ‘moving people’ task across Australia. Within a matter of days of the pandemic being declared on March 11, 2020, by the
World Health Organisation, BIC was aware of a number of businesses already making decisions to completely close or suspend business.
By March 23, Australia was in Stage 1 of its emergency response (social gathering restrictions) and, two days later, closed its international borders. In the past few months we have had so many state-border closures, opens and re-closures that one cannot help but muse how we ever managed to get along, for long enough, to federate our states.
It is my observation over these past few months that industry has proven its resilience, its capacity to bare the burden and its ability to be flexible and provide
clever and sensible solutions. The ‘federation’ of our own bus associations – the Bus Australia Network – is a fine example of what can happen when we all pull together, share our knowledge-base and resources to find the solutions.
Working with governments and regulators is at times challenging, but the Bus Australia Network has set a fast pace to provide information to governments to help them landscape a transport position as part of their emergency response plans and to ensure the industry is on the economic-recovery agenda.
In recent weeks, the BIC has been on the phone, digital face-timing and putting the pen to paper to garner federal, state and local government support for industry in their economic recovery plans. There are three significant areas that we have advocated to governments: 1) bus infrastructure projects from shovel-ready to major works; 2) tourism restart to encourage Australians to travel across the continent, not over it; and 3) diversification and innovative technology in our manufacturing and supply sector.
The response that we have had from all levels of government across a range of jurisdictions has been extremely supportive of our ideas. A number of politicians and bureaucrats are enthusiastic to hold discussions on how we might progress these initial ‘economic boosters’ into action. The bureaucratic process can be slow, but I am confident that we are well placed to negotiate some good stuff for us ‘busies’.
The most recent announcement (July 22) from the Morrison government to form the National Covid-19 Commission Advisory Board (formerly the Coordination Commission) has been charged with looking at business initiatives to support a “supply-side” economic approach to Covid-19 recovery. I think the main game is to create jobs – and lots of them – and in order to do this the Morrison government will be looking at opportunities for relaxing tax on business (make it less costly to run a business) and to ‘de-regulate’ the regulated (cut the red tape).
This ‘supply-side’ approach presents a great opportunity for industry broadly to reap some benefits. Our manufacturing and supply sector are expert producers and suppliers of goods and services in our industry. It is also important to note that our supply sector goes well beyond just the building of buses and coaches and offers a unique labour skill set and innovation in technology and safety.
I hope after reading this column you are on board with me in acknowledging that the businesses in our industry are strong, highly skilled and we are unique providers of automotive vehicles, purveyors of people movement, engineers of safety and high-tech solutions. Together we can all be part of Australia’s economic recovery.
Keep safe and well. Keep informed at the Industry Hub: ozebus.com.au/covid.
LOCKED & LOADED
Key partners – including ATN publisher Bauer Media Group – have been locked in for 2021 Brisbane Truck Show.
The Brisbane Truck Show has renewed long-term partnerships with National Transport Insurance (NTI), BP Australia and Bauer Media Group ahead of the launch of the highly anticipated 2021 event.
The southern hemisphere’s largest automotive business event will return to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from Thursday, May 13 to Sunday, May 16, 2021.
The show is presented by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), whose founding members held the first event in 1968, prior to formalising their association two years later. Following last year’s show, HVIA was presented with two prestigious awards at the Australian Event Awards, with the Brisbane Truck Show named Australia’s Best Corporate Event and Best Exhibition or Tradeshow.
HVIA chief executive Todd Hacking says the accolades only serve to inspire more energy to further improve the show.
“We are delighted with the enthusiasm of our members and other exhibitors to confirm their participation; I think everyone is chomping at the bit for the opportunity to get together in person and it is a privilege for us to play hosts for that reunion,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome back BP Australia as Gold Partner, and to announce that our organisation’s Principal Partner, National Transport Insurance (NTI), has stepped up into the role of Platinum Partner for the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show.
“NTI has been an amazing partner for our organisation and for the show, but that is nothing on the breadth of their contribution right across industry for over 30 years.”
Hacking says the renewed partnership with Bauer Media Group – publisher of Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) – adds further evidence of its commitment to supporting Australian transport.
“As publisher of market-leading titles ATN, Deals on Wheels, Earthmovers & Excavators, Farms & Farm Machinery, and Owner//Driver and their accompanying online titles, Bauer Media Group is connected deeply into the heart of our industry.”
Graham Gardiner, Bauer Media Group’s general manager – industry, says the publisher is delighted to once again partner with HVIA as the exclusive Official Media Partner for the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show.
“Through our comprehensive suite of print, digital, and video and broadcast TV platforms, Bauer Media Group provides unprecedented opportunities for exhibitors to promote their show presence to the key target industries of transport, agriculture and construction, before, during and after the show.
“That includes the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show Official Program containing a full preview of the show and exhibitors, plus maps and other important details,” he said.
Hacking adds that Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week will be back for 2021. He says the creation of the new umbrella event formalised something that has been happening for years alongside the BTS.
“Our exhibitors have long been holding launch events, customer dinners, dealer conferences, drive days, factory tours and much more in tandem with the truck show,” he said.
“The reaction to last year’s expansion into South Bank Parklands was fantastic.
“All of that success is a reflection on the leadership shown by so many of our exhibitors who did such an amazing job showcasing the values of their companies and our industry to the broader community.”
Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week is underpinned by a set of themes that exhibitors chose to represent the values of industry: safety, innovation, sustainability, knowledge, careers and community.
For all the latest information visit www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au.
Bauer Media publishes across six key platforms to maximise audience reach, engagement and response.
