The MTA NSW has submitted recommendations to the NSW government for the 2024-2025 budget, outlining a comprehensive plan to support the state’s transition to electric vehicles and future-proof the automotive industry.
“The automotive industry is currently at a crossroads, being in a transition period between the mass usage of combustion-engine vehicles and hybrid / electric vehicles. To ensure this transition is smooth, we urgently need government investment in training programmes and infrastructure development,” said the MTA NSW.
The association said its key recommendations focus on three main areas: workforce development, consumer incentives, and infrastructure expansion.
“A key focus is addressing the long-term skill shortages in automotive. Research that was conducted by Deloitte for the MTAA revealed that of the 26 automotive industry occupations, 35 per cent were assessed as being in ‘shortage’. Another alarming piece of data shown in the research include vacancy fill rates, with a number of occupations including panel beaters having a fill rate of below 30 per cent,” the MTA NSW said.
Accordingly, the association’s recommendations to the state government include:
- High school skills programmes
- Strategies to attract overseas workers to automotive occupations in need
- Programmes to encourage regional workforce participation
- Updating the NSW licensing system to allow current licensed tradespeople to upgrade to a new EV license through structured upskilling courses
To supplement the approach, the MTA NSW also recommended urgent upskilling of the industry to meet the growing numbers of EVs arriving on NSW roads.
Additionally, the association made several recommendations to promote the sale of new energy vehicles. These include the reintroduction of rebates for purchasing electric and zero-emission vehicles, removing stamp duty on new EVs, funding an expanded network of electric charging stations statewide – including dedicated charging ports for heavy vehicles at highway rest stops – and funding an expanded network of hydrogen fuelling stations for heavy trucks and buses.
“By implementing these recommendations, the NSW government can ensure a smooth transition to a future with clean transportation, while creating a thriving automotive industry that is well-equipped to service the needs of Aussie drivers for years to come,” said the MTA NSW.