The automotive industry is a vital contributor to Australia’s economy, employing more than 384, 810 people across 13 sectors and 52 trades, and contributing around 2.1% of Australia’s GDP. The majority of automotive businesses (96.6%) are small and family-owned enterprises.
The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) represents its member associations with the primary objective of educating and informing government and industry about the role of the automotive sector. They proactively participate in the development of sound public policy on issues affecting or impacting the retail motor trades, small business and consumers. The sector includes enterprises that sell, service, repair, fuel and maintain Australia’s 19.2 million strong motor vehicle fleet.
The MTAA represents the Motor Traders’ Association of New South Wales, 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.
As a national-level body, MTAA 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 and public service including regulators.
The National Secretariat of the association acts as a liaison between its Members and their business constituents and the Federal government, Commonwealth departments and industry. It receives specific inputs from National Industry Sector Committees that sit underneath the MTAA umbrella.
These committees provide detailed inputs on matters specific to each of the industries of the automotive sector. These sectors include the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA), Australian Motorcycle Dealers Association (AMDA) and several others representing parts dismantlers and recyclers, service stations and convenience stores, tyre dealers and retreaders, and farm and industrial machinery dealers and others.