THE Motor Trades Association of Australia, the national body of the auto retail and repair industry, says it has been taken by surprise by the announcement of its NSW membership arm that NSW is going it alone and it is saying that it has yet to be offered any reasons for the split.

In a surprise move, the Motor Traders’ Association of NSW (MTA NSW) quit the national association body, effective immediately, claiming that the MTAA could not respond effectively to industry changes.

The MTA NSW – which just this month annexed and rebooted the MTA ACT – said in a statement that its independent operation “will enable more targeted advocacy and service delivery by directing resources and expertise toward the unique challenges of its members.”

Sid Cetindag, chair of the MTAA

It said it chose to leave the MTAA “after determining that MTAA’s proposed governance changes and strategic direction do not align with the specific needs of NSW and ACT automotive businesses.”

Sid Cetindag, chair of the MTAA, told GoAutoNews Premium that the decision “came out of the blue”. 

He said that just 10 weeks ago, the MTAA state CEOs met in the offices of MTA NSW and agreed on a unified strategy to put the issues confronting the auto industry to Canberra.

“So I don’t understand the reasoning and they haven’t come out and given us any indication of why. It took us by surprise and we were blindsided by it. So it’s a really bizarre one. I’m sure they have their reasoning and that’s something for them to live with and deal with and answer back to their members,” Mr Cetindag said.

“If you look at the pros and cons of why you would be a part of the MTAA, and if you look at the collaborations that we’ve had since the board has come together with the likes of AADA and some of the other industry bodies, and look at where we’re trying to take the automotive industry as a whole, they (MTA NSW) are going to get left behind. 

“The MTA NSW might have their reasons for doing this but all I know is that the MTAA board has some really strong views on some of the key topics that we are looking to address including issues around franchising and code of conduct, plus NVES that are high on our list.

“There are some more major areas that as a national body, we want to assist the entire industry, not just dealers. We’re talking independent repairers, body repairers, ag and motorcycle dealers, used car dealers, absolutely everyone that fits under the automotive umbrella, where they’re challenged with a major federal concern.

“When we sit down as a board, we talk about our direction and our purpose. It is to represent the mums and dads all the way up to your larger dealers. So it’s not just about representing the large dealers or the larger body repairers, and we’ve made that very clear to all the states what our vision and purpose is.

“We want to be a united voice. Now, if the MTA NSW doesn’t want to be a part of that, and they believe that they can represent their members as effectively as we can through the MTAA, well, let them be my guest and go for it.”

Mr Cetindag said he did not think NSW would stay outside the MTAA forever. 

“We believe that when the MTA NSW members see they are no longer a member of the MTAA they will start asking how do they get a voice on the Code of Conduct or franchising, if it’s not through the MTAA? How do those business owners in that state be heard?

“If the MTA NSW turns up to Canberra to lobby in regards to a federal concern and you have the MTAA, which is a recognized entity, and it has been for a long time, I think they’re going to be left at the door wondering why they’ve done what they’ve done. 

“You can’t be your voice on your own. The MTAA has the support of the other states. We all have the same belief in the same vision for the industry as a whole.”

Mr Cetindag said: “When I say this really took us by surprise, we only just met in New South Wales not long ago where we all agreed to move forward as one united voice. So this has really come out of the blue for us. 

“All the CEOs agreed we were all one and a united voice. We all agree on our purpose. We all agree on our vision. And we broke bread, and everyone was on the same page. To get this out of the blue has really taken us by surprise, and we don’t quite understand it. But it’s their call.”

Mr Cedindag said that if NSW dealers think they are missing out on a voice in Canberra “they can definitely reach out to the VACC or other MTA’s around Australia and they would definitely provide them with the services that they  provide their members 

“If they don’t want to miss out and they do want a voice, they can do it through the VACC or the other MTA’s around the country,” he said.

Footnote: MTAA represents the Victorian and Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, the Motor Trade Association of South Australia and Northern Territory, the Motor Trade Association of Western Australia, and the Motor Trades Association of Queensland. It no longer represents the motor trades in NSW

The MTAA describes itself as a national-level body that  presents a unified voice primarily to the federal government and federal departments and plays a key role in influencing government policy. 

“The work MTAA undertakes includes identifying and monitoring issues affecting the automotive sector, and taking up appropriate matters with the government.

The national secretariat of the association acts as a liaison between its members and their business constituents and the federal government, departments and industry. It receives specific inputs from the committees that sit underneath the MTAA umbrella.