The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has launched its federal election manifesto, ‘REVolution: The automotive industry’s policy priorities for the next Australian government’.
The document calls for the implementation of 35 recommendations which the VACC said will “make a real difference” to Australians. The manifesto calls on the next government to:
- Boost apprentice support
- Improve eligibility for employers to sponsor skilled migrants
- Ensure all automotive retailers are eligible for any future federal government subsidies related to pandemic or state of emergency relief payments
- Take a leadership role in implementing a national zero and low emission vehicle policy in collaboration with the automotive retail industry
- Increase investment and research in an industry-led and federally funded national programme aimed at the proper disposal of end-of-life vehicles.
According to the VACC, the manifesto will help government deal with the changing automotive landscape relating to infrastructure, skill requirements, and revenue streams, which require planning and policy debate.
“There’s more to do, of course, but if the next Australian government gets these policies quickly into place it will shore up a $40 billion sector. That’s good for every Australian,” said VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym.
“Automotive employs 380,000 people nationally within 72,521 businesses, most of which are small and family-owned. The next federal government needs to take advantage of industry insight and resources as it lays out its policy intentions,” Gwilym added.