One of the leaders of Australia’s auto industry says the country is suffering from a “perfect storm” of infrastructure problems that could threaten the manufacturing and service sectors.
Speaking at the National Press Club recently, Australian Motor Industry Federation (AMIF) chief executive Richard Dudley said that on average, 450 businesses a year are closing across the country, including car retailers and service and maintenance shops.
Dudley used the speech to call on the government to develop a comprehensive road map to help the auto industry climb out of its current difficulties.
“So critical are the issues facing the entire industry that AMIF demands that within the first 100 days of the 44th Australian Parliament, the government engages with industry and starts the development of a green paper, and ultimately a white paper, on the future of the automotive industry to be delivered within 12 months,” he said.
He also said that the country must do more to train skilled trade workers for careers in the field. He noted that many independent mechanics are finding it difficult to keep up with advances in technology.
“A motor mechanic is now part diagnostic technician, part computer engineer, part mathematician, ” Dudley said.
According to the AMIF, the downstream car sector is currently suffering from a shortage of 19,000 mechanics.