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FROM THE DEPUTY'S DESK 
Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes
As Christmas fast approaches it is appropriate to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.
For all of us in both our business and private lives, the year has not been the best. Continuing turmoil in the world arena with the Global Financial Crisis has left us all, if not concerned, then somewhat poorer. Through it all we have survived and will I hope continue to do so.
As we look forward to a new year we can do so with a great deal of optimism. The markets are changing, the people are growing in confidence and as we climb through the stimulus of Christmas spending we will emerge into the new year, not only as survivors, but with the impetus to go and grow in 2010.
To all members of the MTA.ACT, it is an opportune time to thank you all for your help and support during the year. The Association will not survive without the members, as I have said before, a lot of what happens you never see but in the clear light of day 2009 has been a successful year, much has been achieved and the foundations are laid for 2010.
We at MTA.ACT trust you and all of yours have a happy and safe Christmas and we look forward to being here in 2010 to do it for you again.
MTA OFFICE CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The MTA office will be closed for the Christmas/New Year period from 12 noon Friday 18 December 2009 and reopening Monday 4 January 2010.
MTA President, Peter Taylor, Board of Directors and MTA staff wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
APPRENTICE KICKSTART BONUS
Apprentice Kickstart Bonus - December 2009 to February 2010
What is the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus?
The Apprentice Kickstart Bonus is an employer incentive designed to counteract the impact of the global recession on commencements and retention of young people in traditional Australian Apprenticeships.
Who is eligible for the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus?
Employers who employ an Australian Apprentice in a tradional trade who is aged 19 years and under. The Apprentice Kickstart Bonus is payable in respect to commencements between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010 in a qualification leading to a traditional trade occupation.
The employer must also meet eligibility requirements under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.
What is a traditional trade?
A traditional trade is a trade listed on the National Skills Needs List. The list is available at www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au
What financial support is available to employers?
The Apprenticeship Kickstart Bonus is a total of $3350 paid in instalments of:
- $850 paid at the three month point of the Australian Apprenticeship; and
- $2500 paid at the nine month point of the Australian Apprenticeship.
Are the new payments in addition to existing support for employers of Australian Apprentices?
Yes. The new payment is in addition to the suite of employer incentives already available under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.
Employers of Australian Apprentices at the Certificate III level and above may already be eligible to receive $4000 in incentives comprising a $1500 commencement incentive and a $2500 completion incentive.
How long is the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus available for?
The Apprentice Kickstart Bonus is available for commencements between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010.
How are the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus payments made?
Payments are made directly to the employer's nominated bank account.
How do I apply?
Your Australian Apprenticeship Centre will advise you of your eligibility for the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus at sign up.
MTA.ACT GOLF DAY 
The 21st annual MTA Golf Day was held on Thursday 12 November 2009 at the Gold Creek Country Club and what a success it was!
All players enjoyed their game of golf, buffet dinner and presentation at the conclusion of the day. Congratulations to all prize winners.
MTA wish to sincerely thank our sponsors: Auswild & Co, Capricorn Society, Commonwealth Bank, Goodyear Autocare, Jesner & Kelly, Lennock Motors, National Tyre Wholesalers, NRMA Business Insurance, PPG Industries, RAMS Home Loans, Regional Group Training, Rolfe Motor Group and TransAct.
MTAA SUPERANNUATION 
Investing in communities through directly owned, unlisted property
As part of its innovative Two-Portfolio Strategy, MTAA Super has been investing in directly owned and unlisted property for well over a decade, and the Fund has a range of specialist property managers always looking out for the kind of direct investments that will offer long-term gain for members. The Fund also invests in property via funds.
In this article we discuss four directly owned property investments. Three are residential estates in fast-growing Western Australia and South-East Queensland, and the fourth is a purpose-designed commercial building that from its inception has been occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra.
Alkimos, WA
Just over 40 kilometres North of Perth is Alkimos, where MTAA Super, in December 2007 acquired a substantial interest in a large residential development site. The Fund’s partners in the investment are Peet Limited, a property development company with more than 114 years of history in Australia, and the Myer Family Office.
The site, known as Shorehaven, has a substantial protected beach and has been divided into three areas for development, the Eastern Precinct, the Central Precinct and the Coastal Precinct. Overall there will be around 2,800 residential blocks available within this development, with the first blocks due to come to market in early 2010.
Logan Shire, Queensland
In the Logan Shire, mid-way between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, MTAA Super owns two residential estate developments. These were acquired in 2000 and one, called Spring Mountain, is deemed ‘rural residential’ – that is, the blocks are large; somewhere between four thousand and eight thousand square metres each.
The other estate is in two parts, Flagstone East and Flagstone West. This area is part of what the Queensland Government has identified as a ‘preferred settlement’ area, as it plans for expected population change in its South East Queensland Regional Plan. According to the Department of Infrastructure and Planning the population of South East Queensland is expected to rise from 2.8 million to 4.4 million by 2031. This preferred settlement status was good news for the development of the Flagstone residential estates, as there are now more blocks able to be developed per hectare. The estates still have around 10,500 blocks yet to be developed.
This is a flourishing area, with a range of industries for potential employment and an influx of families looking for home sites.
A stone’s throw from Parliament House, Canberra
MTAA Super also invests in high quality commercial buildings with good long-term tenants. One such example is the RG Casey building in Canberra. Designed for, and fully tenanted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and a stone’s throw from Parliament House, this was previously a Commonwealth asset, sold during the divestment of the Commonwealth’s property portfolio in 1999.
This was initially a co-investment with the Commonwealth Bank but since mid-2009 MTAA Super owns 100 per cent of the asset. DFAT is expected to negotiate another extended lease term with MTAA Super when the current lease expires.
Valuing direct property investments
The Fund employs independent professional highly experienced valuers and has a stringent regular valuation schedule.
Property is valued in similar ways to other directly owned assets. Valuations consider the long-term cashflows generated by the asset and take into account the lease profile of the building and the credit risk of the tenants among other considerations. Valuations are also partly based on evidence of other transactions for similar properties. For example, for a large residential estate transactions for both tracts of undeveloped land and sales of developed blocks in comparable regions would be assessed, and a range of valuation methodologies applied to arrive at the value.
During the global financial crisis and the following economic downturn, every asset class was affected, and MTAA Super’s property investments have moved in line with market changes for the direct property asset class generally. However, the Fund’s policy of conservative investment in high quality property, in good locations with stable long term tenants, means that as recovery is established in economies, the quality of the assets will continue to support long term returns.
The information in this article is provided by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628 AFSL 238718), Trustee of the MTAA Superannuation Fund (MTAA Super) (ABN 74 559 365 913). Any advice contained in this article is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), an important document containing all the information you need to make a decision about MTAA Super, can be obtained by calling MTAA Super on 1300 362 415 or from www.mtaasuper.com.au. You should consider the PDS in making any decision about MTAA Super.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SUPER 
Do you understand how your super works?
MTAA Super holds presentations across Australia that are open to anyone, free of charge - you don't even have to be a member to attend, so bring your partner or a friend. We offer the kind of general information that eveyone needs to know.
You should come away from the seminar with a better understanding of salary sacrificing, voluntary contributions and how taxation affects super.
You can find out more about the dates and content of the MTAA Super seminars by visiting www.mtaasuper.com.au or by calling us on 1300 362 415.
MTAA Super workplace presentations
For employers, it's easy to arrange a presentation in your own workplace, and each presentation is tailored specifically to your staff. Just tell your Business Development Manager (BDM) the subjects you would like to see covered, and they will put together a special presentation for you. It might include for example, insurance, making extra contributions and consolidating super - there are a range of topics that can be discussed, so talk to your Business Development Manager about what your employees are interested in. Call us on 1300 362 415 to be put in touch with your local BDM.
DANGEROUS GOODS SEMINAR
For those who attended the seminars provided by ACT WorkCover on the handling of dangerous goods and hazardous substances, I hope it proved beneficial and cleared the myths and rumours surrounding the subjects.
It is a fact of life that all businesses must be prepared for change particularly the way we currently do business and the way we handle chemicals etc. I think most would appreciate that there has to be change and the change will be for the improvement not only of the automotive industry, but all industries.
To some it may appear to be an impost on their time (and time of course is money!) but the investment in time to make your system right will eventually save you money. The businesses who took the time to train themselves and or their staff have invested wisely in the future of their business, for those who didn't attend when the inspectors come knocking, you won't be able to say 'we weren't given an opportunity'.
Officers of WorkCover did a great job and it can't go without mentioning the support MTA received from David Andriolo (Caltex Watson). It was generous of David to allow the use of his business for the more practical side of the session, many thanks to David for his support.
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