The chamber says that the May 18 federal election is presenting a difficult choice for many automotive businesses around the country, and to help its members it has created a pre-election scorecard showing where the major parties stand on industry imperatives.

The chamber has widely promoted its automotive industry policy priorities, particularly to the ALP and the Coalition, through its election manifesto ‘Keep Australia Moving’.

The VACC said that while there has been progress on some industry priorities from both parties, there has also been disappointment.

VACC head of marketing, media, communications and publications, David Dowsey, told GoAutoNews Premium that the areas where the support had failed the automotive industry were policies regarding:

• A mandated motor vehicle insurance and repair industry code of conduct;
• Prioritising skills and training policy initiatives towards the automotive industry;
• A lack of support for an end-of-life vehicle program among both parties;
• No indication of the abolition of the luxury car tax from either party; and
• A lack of concrete measures for business red-tape reduction and improvements to Australian Consumer Law from both parties.

“For an industry that employs 380,000 people and contributes more than $37 billion annually to the Australian economy, it is inconceivable that such key industry priorities have been largely ignored by both major political parties,” Mr Dowsey said.

“Regardless of whoever wins government, VACC will continue to lobby and pressure for meaningful reform that recognises and promotes the merits and key needs of the automotive industry amongst policy-makers.”

By Neil Dowling