VACC Calls For Funding To Provide An Automotive Industry Image Make Over

MELBOURNE – Aug 11, 2010: VACC claims that the Retail, Service and Repair (RS&R) sector of the Automotive Industry needs Federal Government assistance to revitalize the sector.

The peak Automotive Industry body in Victoria has called on the next Federal Government to better market and promote the sector, in order to attract young people and skilled labour.

“VACC represents approximately 5,500 businesses in the RS&R sector of the Victorian and Tasmanian automotive industry. We are also the largest employer of automotive apprentices in those States. So we know what we are talking about when we say there is an abundance of retail automotive employers willing to engage apprentices, but the demand far outweighs supply,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“The overall labour market is getting tight and we know of businesses going under, or unable to expand, due to critical skills shortages. VACC has the infrastructure to tackle this issue but we need Federal Government assistance to promote the sector to schools and the community at large,” Mr Purchase said.

VACC also claims previous Governments have been prepared to promote the automotive manufacturing sector but often at the expense of the RS&R sector.

“The vast bulk of Government financial support for the automotive industry continues to target the manufacturing side and the retail side has become the ‘poor cousin’. Manufacturing is important, however, where would it be without the RS&R sector? Why build, or import, a vehicle if you cannot sell it, regularly check its safety or repair it?” asked Mr Purchase.

“One solution to this problem is an industry image make-over. The public perception of the RS&R sector continues to be outdated, in that it is now high tech and provides good career opportunities.

“It takes time and significant financial resources to alter this view which is why ‘VACC’s Issues for the 2010 Federal Election’, submitted to all political parties, calls on the next Federal Government to provide appropriate funding to better market and promote the RS&R sector.

“We know there are teenagers and university students thinking about their future career path. We know parents are helping them decide which direction to go, but we also know that the opportunities within the RS&R sector are not being promoted to these groups,” Mr Purchase said.