The AAAA is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new initiative which will form an important component of our overall Government relations and advocacy strategy leading into the 2013 Federal election. The objective of the “Local MP Engagement Program” is to engage directly with key influencers in the Gillard Government with the objective of raising the awareness and profile of the automotive aftermarket industry and to provide a forum to have direct dialogue with key MP’s in their own electorates about various issues affecting our industry. Topics will cover Federal Government support of aftermarket manufacturers and exporters, independent aftermarket access to manufacturer controlled technical and diagnostic information and the need for increased consumer education on the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance.
The first of these meetings was held on 30 January in Ballarat and was hosted at Albins Offroad’s impressive manufacturing facility. The Hon Catherine King, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport took the opportunity to tour the Albins facility and then meet with 10 representatives from AAAA member companies in her Ballarat electorate. This meeting is the first of a number of similar events we are hosting with Government MP’s over the course of the next few months. A meeting with Mark Dreyfus MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation will take place in Melbourne on 15 February and a meeting with Graham Perrett MP, Member for Moreton will take place in Brisbane on 20 February. We are also awaiting confirmation of the timing of meetings with the Hon Brendon O’Connor, Minister for Small Business and other invitations have gone out for events in NSW and QLD throughout February and March.
If your business is located in one of the electorates targeted for an event you will shortly receive an invitation to attend. It is vitally important that as an industry we show a concerted voice to Government, so we urge you to make every effort to attend this event yourself, or send a representative staff member.
