VACC, the peak Automotive Industry body in Victoria, has welcomed comments by Liberal MP, Bruce Billson, regarding the recent decision by the Government to transfer automotive training into a manufacturing Skills Council.

Mr Billson, MP for Dunkley (Victoria) told the House of Representatives that the Rudd Government’s decision to allow Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) to oversee automotive training was a ‘bad’ one.

“At a time when I thought competency and skills in an increasingly sophisticated sector such as the Automotive Industry would be very important and when manufacturing so often holds up the Automotive Industry as an example of world-class, day-in, day-out endeavour and of what Australia and Australian companies can do, they were left out,” Mr Billson said.

“This is another opportunity where the Government can show that its commitment to the Automotive Industry goes beyond some of the big public statements, the big media events.

“Perhaps if the Skills Council had had a hard hat opportunity that the Automotive Industry could provide, they might have got a better look in.

“This decision is a bad decision; it needs to be changed and I encourage the Government to do that,” Mr Billson said.

VACC and the Automotive Industry are campaigning for the Minister of Education and Training, Julia Gillard to reverse her decision to transfer automotive training to MSA.

“The decision leaves the Australian Automotive Industry without a say in its own training needs. No one knows the Automotive Industry better than the Automotive Industry itself so it is astonishing that we have been pushed to the outer of what is a critical area of the Industry,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“This issue has united the Automotive Industry in its condemnation of the Government’s decision. Our 5,500 members, the components sector, the other Motor Trades and Industry bodies, unions and now a Member of Parliament all agree that the Government must rethink.

“The issue is gathering momentum and the number of dissenting voices is growing. We hope the Deputy Prime Minister takes notice of Mr Billson’s comments,” Mr Purchase said.