Former car dealer appointed MTA SA president

The Motor Trade Association of South Australia has re-appointed Frank Agostino as its new president. Agostino wants to get rid of the ‘doom and gloom’ which he believes is present in the industry.

One of his key aims is to: “Make South Australia competitive with other state counterparts.”

Agostino comes to the job with 29 years-experience as a car dealer. Previously he was the MTA SA president from 2005 – 2008. Currently he is an operator of various BP service stations.

“The business community in South Australia is facing a number of challenges at the moment and the retail automotive sector is not immune,” he says. “But with challenge comes opportunity and — through hard work — we can help make positive changes to grow the sector.”

He wants the SA government to implement WorkCover reforms and harmonise business regulations between states.

Agostino says it is unfair that a service station operator in Victoria doesn’t face the same costs and red tape as he does in SA for selling tobacco and “dangerous goods” such as petroleum.

“There are a lot of those sort of issues that should be fixed,” he says.

When he was a car dealer, he saw a lot of sales disappear across the border because it was cheaper for a company to register a vehicle interstate. He also opposes the sale of the Motor Accident Commission which he sees as a cash grab.

Agostino believes a vehicle inspection scheme for SA remains critical to ensure that all drivers are driving a safe vehicle on SA roads. “The excessive Stamp Duties on motor vehicles remains a significant exhibitor to private and commercial vehicles,” he says.

He supports introduction of road tolls where there are alternative routes and thinks they can be commercially viable.

The MTA has consistently called for a compulsory vehicle inspection system, especially because of SA’s ageing car fleet. Agostino says this was not self-interest and the MTA would happily let a group such as the RAA conduct tests rather than MTA members.

While the cost would impact low-income consumers “those people are the ones we need to protect”, he adds. A few hundred dollars up front would be far better than disastrous consequences of causing an accident in an unroadworthy vehicle.

Agostino takes over the MTA presidency from Neville Gibb who served his full term. In May, Paul Unerkov was appointed MTA chief executive.