AIMVIA gets heard by political powerbrokers

Australia’s new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is potentially the biggest automotive ally that AIMVIA has got.

AIMVIA (Australian Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association) vice president, Ross Pendergast believes the that the change in government “will be a positive move as current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed his willingness to deregulate the market.”

At the organisation’s first AGM in Sydney yesterday, the topic of continuing to engage relevant ministers, politicians, and industry to ensure AIMVIA’s policy is heard by the right people.

The consensus form the AIMVIA board is that policy development has come a long way thanks to key strategic decisions made in recent months which included the appointment of a leading public relations firm to lobby government on behalf of AIMVIA.

Members of the board who were present at the AGM included Jack Sandher, Andrew Troha, Ross Pendergast and Zoran Todorovich.

AIMVIA’s recent performance in getting its collective voice heard by the right legislation power brokers has been excellent – but the board believes still more work can be done to further build the organisation’s profile and credibility in Canberra.

More public awareness of AIMVIA’s stance on important vehicle-related topics will need to be driving by developing relationships with key media.

An area that Pendergast is focussed on is growing membership – something he believes is “crucial”.

“If we do nothing and there is no change our small industry will get even smaller,” he said. “We need our membership to grow so our funds can be used to effectively lobby government.”

“Funding would be crucial for polling of consumers and more robust modelling economic modelling. Our statistics need to be much more robust in order to have a solid backing from politicians and from the media,” he said.

The points were well received by over 30 key members from a variety of sectors within the imported vehicle supply chain, as was a retrospective look at the last twelve months and a chance to cement short term plans for the next six to 12 months.

A turnout of approximately 30 industry and business representatives from all sectors of the imported vehicle supply chain to get a run down on the last 12 months of growth but most importantly on where the organisation is heading in the next 6 to 12 months.

Other measures touted at the AGM included future funds to be used for polling of consumers and to back up AIMVIA’s policy views with robust data and economic modelling.

Board member Jack Sandher noted that the AIMVIA has undergone some major changes in the last 12 months, in which the most important include a strategic partnership with GRACosway – a leading public affairs practice with over two decades of experience – which led to some key meetings with key politicians as well as key policy recommendations for AIMV IA to take into consideration into the future.

Lbbying on behalf of AIMVIA was a huge part of its push in the last 6 to 12 months, which included a key policy review on the Motor Vehicle Standards Act (MVSA), continued policy development, and lobbying key influencers within State and Federal government circles to further build credibility.

Andrew Troha notes: “After 12 months of growth the AIMVIA now has the possibility to have a voice against the new car and OEM industry.”

“We are here to change the perspective and to get politicians who haven’t had the ammunition in the past to finally go our way,” he says.

“One of the key changes made to the existing AIMVIA board included the resignation of Damon Jackson and Tony Tiehuis and the appointment of Euan Philpot from Jevic and Daryl McIntyre from Autohub Australia to replace them as members of the board.”

“In order to build on the last 12 months of growth the AIMVIA said it will continue to grow its membership by approaching prospective corporate stakeholders and invites any business within the car imports supply chain to become part of the AIMVIA.”

AutoTalk Australia recently spoke to industry experts on what Malcolm Turnbull can do for the car industry.