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mecu only 8.49%
pa
In this Issue
In Other News
Special Points of
Interest / Dates
Stage 3 water restrictions continue
MTA-ACT Board meeting 13th February
Vehicle Sales
Vehicle Sales
December 2006
source: FCAI
$$ For Sale $$
Business for sale? Send your details to
helen.jones@mtaact.com.au
to feature in our next issue.
New Members
The MTA ACT would like to extend a warm welcome to
all of our new members since the last issue of our journal.
ARE YOU GEETING
0.68%
ON YOUR EFTPOS?
Special EFTPOS Offer for MTA Members
MTA.ACT and Commonwealth Bank are pleased to make an
exclusive offer to MTA.ACT members for their EFTPOS merchant fees of
0.68% on credit card
transactions, $0.12 on
debit cards.
MTA has entered into an arrangement with the Commonwealth Bank to
provide members with an exclusive member only deal for their credit card
merchant fees.
To take advantage of this deal, please call Helen on 02 6241 6266
Note: You do not have to be a Commonwealth Bank customer to take up this
offer.
Criticism should always leave people with the
feeling that they have been helped.
Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the
national debt.
SPONSORS LINKS
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From The Executive Director
On behalf of Helen and myself, I would like to wish you all a very happy new year. I trust you’ve all had a great Christmas and new year and look forward to again assisting you in this ever changing industry.
MTA Journal
The Journal has been an invaluable tool in providing relevant information to members since September 2002. Since the introduction of the Journal, both technology and the way industry's and governments distribute information to members and the general public has changed drastically. In today's fast pace world, individuals and businesses maximise this technology through the use of internet websites and Email system that instantly provides information to a large number of people.
The Board has been reviewing the association's methods of delivering all information to members, and has decided to embrace the available technology and introduce:
MTA-ACT E-News
MTA-ACT E-News will be produced every 4-6 weeks and distributed by electronic means to all current Journal subscribers. All members and government departments will be encouraged to distribute MTA-ACT E-News to as many additional staff as required, or they can just log onto the MTA-ACT website www.mtaact.com.au All copies of MTA E-News will remain on the website for your referral at any stage.
As you can see from this first issue, the association will continue to provide relevant information on all industry matters, and regular articles from the ACT Office of Fair Trading and ACT WorkCover will continue. Further, MTA-ACT E-News will cater for any company wishing to advertise any product or promotion, at extremely reduced rates. Contact Helen or myself for details.
Whilst I'm sure you will all agree the Journal has served the association well over the years, the production of MTA-ACT E-News will bring a new level of commitment to all members.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank our three major supporters, for their continued support since the first publication of the Journal, and commitment to supporting MTA-ACT E-News.
MTAA Superannuation Fund
mecu Intelligent Banking
Snedden Hall & Gallop
Members are reminded that these companies offer a variety of services to members at reduced rates. Please support them.
NRMA - New Venture - Impacts Your Business ?
NRMA Motoring & Services has announced to Approved Repairers their intention to pilot a brand new venture “NRMA MotorServe”
The new venture represents the opening of two vehicle servicing centres. The first (forecast to be operational by Easter) will be located in Liverpool and the second in Tuggeranong (forecast to be operational in September 2007).
According to NRMA, "NRMA MotorServe will carry out a limited range of mechanical services focusing on preventative maintenance. We believe NRMA MotorServe can operate successfully in coordination with our Approved Repairer Network (ARN), and all NRMA MotorServe customers that require specialist or major repairs will be actively recommended to use a local NRMA Approved Repairer".
NRMA state that "For a long time our Members have told us that car servicing is a market they want us to enter, and many of our affiliated car clubs around the world operate similar club-branded service and repair facilities".
During the pilot process NRMA MotorServe will concentrate on the following general servicing and preventative maintenance areas:
Oil and filter change
Log book servicing
Safety inspections
Battery testing and sales
Registration inspections
Flushing services
Brake services
Wheel and tyre services (limited)
Exhaust maintenance
NRMA product and service offering including membership, maps, guides, special publications and branded merchandise.
I'll keep you updated on further developments as information comes to hand, however I would appreciate any comments on the effects such a move would have on your business.
Union Picnic Day
Members will be aware that employers in the ACT have been required to observe, for certain award covered employees, a union picnic day in March each year.
The introduction of the new Employment Relations Reforms (WorkChoices) has now placed an end to this practice.
The principal legislation, the federal Workplace Relations Act does not recognise union picnic days as holidays declared by a State or Territory.
Further, the Workplace Relations Act specifies that union picnic days are matters that are not allowable in awards and where these days are specified in an award they ceased to have effect from the commencement of the legislation on 27 March 2006.
Members of the MTA.ACT have no obligation to provide a union picnic day to staff on the first Monday in March each year.
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Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Loans subject to normal lending criteria and approval. The Comparison Rate is based on a secured loan of $30,000 for 5 years. A Comparison Rate Schedule is available at the premises from mecu by calling 132 888, visiting www.mecu.com.au or your local service centre. Warning: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Interest rates
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Industrial Relations
MINIMUM WAGE DECISION AND ALLOWANCE INCREASE
Following on from the decision handed down by the Australian Fair Pay Commission, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) has awarded increases to allowances. These increases flow on from the Minimum Wage Decision that became operative from 1 December 2006.
The increase to award wages is $27.40 per week to adult wages and proportionate increases to juniors and apprentices. This increase is absorbable in over award payments. The increase is operative from the first pay period on or after 1st December 2006.
Changes to the method of calculating wage increases, with an emphasis on the hourly rate and not the weekly rate, has meant that the previously published pay scales have varied slightly. This change in approach will impact on pay scales for the Vehicle Industry Repair, Services and Retail Award.
The Department of Employment & Workplace Relations on 8 February 2007 published amended pay scales, but an examination of the rates has not entirely resolved our concerns with the calculation of rates for casual service station employees and the adjult rate for a first year apprentice still appears to be inaccurate. MTA.NSW Employment Relations Officers have again written to the DEWR in the hope of resolving these matters. As soon as we can confirm the position on these matters we will publish finalised rates of pay.
MTA apologies for any inconvenience this has caused our members and especially payroll staff, but hopefully future wage rate increases will be undertaken by DEWR and AFPC in a more efficient manner.
ERIS
MTA's NEW ELECTRONIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS INFORMATION SYSTEM
A number of MTA members have already signed up and are enjoying the benefits of the new Electronic Employment Relations Information System (ERIS) which is specifically designed for the motor industry and is an excellent resource that will greatly assist you in your payroll and employment relations functions. ERIS allows you to be the expert!.
Some of the subjects that ERIS covers to assist you to manage people at work are:
* Payroll – including award wages, leave calculations, record keeping.
* Recruitment – letters of appointment, contract of employment.
* Termination – pro forma warning letters.
* Apprenticeships – appointment letters, test, subsidy advise.
* Employment policies – industry specific and general policies.
* Superannuation – payment checklist, guidance material.
* Workers Compensation, OH&S, checklists, forms policy.
* Awards with plain English comments.
* Managing your employees.
* Performance appraisal system.
* Relevant employment legislation links
ERIS keeps subscribers informed in a timely way of key updates to the service and changes in payroll issues and key legislation, namely, WorkChoices legislation. It has never been this easy and cost effective to implement good up-to-date employment practices, policies and procedures.
Vehicle Sales Figures 2006
The final 2006 Vfacts figures have been released showing a total vehicle sales volume of 962,521 which although down on 2005, represented the second highest ever sales volume.
Canberra recorded an increase of 52 vehicles on 2005 levels for a total of 14,512
The table below represents how each manufacturer preformed.
Information supplied from FCAI website.
| New Vehicle Sales By Marque |
| |
2006 |
2005 |
Variance |
Market Share % |
| Toyota |
213,847 |
202817 |
11030 |
22.2 |
| Holden |
146,511 |
174,464 |
-27,953 |
15.2 |
| Ford |
114,965 |
129,140 |
-14,175 |
11.9 |
| Mazda |
63,664 |
66,520 |
-2,856 |
6.6 |
| Honda |
54,202 |
47,001, |
7,201 |
5.6 |
| Mitsubishi |
54,175 |
57,776 |
-3,601 |
5.6 |
| Nissan |
53,392 |
56,032 |
-2,640 |
5.5 |
| Hyundai |
46,523 |
48,010 |
-1,487 |
4.8 |
| Subaru |
37,520 |
36,044 |
1,476 |
3.9 |
| Volkswagen |
21,571 |
15,782 |
5,789 |
2.2 |
| Kia |
20,770 |
25,293 |
-4,523 |
2.2 |
| Mercedes-Benz |
18,104 |
17,661 |
443 |
1.9 |
| BMW |
16,034 |
15,910 |
124 |
1.7 |
| Suzuki |
15,798 |
13,794 |
2,004 |
1.6 |
| Peugeot |
8,107 |
7,025 |
1,082 |
0.8 |
| Lexus |
7,162 |
6,005 |
1,157 |
0.7 |
| Audi |
5,770 |
4,808 |
962 |
0.6 |
| Jeep |
5,099 |
5,078 |
21 |
0.5 |
| Volvo Car |
4,000 |
2,917 |
1,083 |
0.4 |
| Chrysler |
3,610 |
2,479 |
1,131 |
0.4 |
| Citroen |
3,507 |
3,005 |
502 |
0.4 |
| Land Rover |
3,392 |
3,092 |
300 |
0.4 |
| Renault |
2,860 |
3,301 |
-441 |
0.3 |
| Mini |
2,038 |
2,097 |
-59 |
0.2 |
| Proton |
2,008 |
2,164 |
-156 |
0.2 |
| Saab |
1,605 |
1,510 |
95 |
0.2 |
| Porsche |
1,154 |
1,205 |
-51 |
0.1 |
| Jaguar |
1,011 |
975 |
36 |
0.1 |
MTAA Super
We’ve all heard about the ageing of Australia. At the moment there are seven taxpayers per retiree. By 2021, when today’s 50-year olds turn 65, that’s expected to drop to around 3.5 taxpayers per retiree, and to relieve the burden on the tax system governments of both persuasions have introduced incentives to encourage us to save for our old age.
Australia has been a leader in this area, and over the last twenty years we’ve seen many changes aimed at making superannuation an attractive way to save for retirement.
Each time a change is made to superannuation the old rules usually continue to have an effect into the future. Given the many changes that have occurred over the years, this has led to a complex, confusing and often inconsistent system.
The superannuation industry, along with others, has long been calling for simplification and in May 2006 the federal budget introduced the biggest changes to superannuation in many years. Once they are all in force, retirement planning will certainly be a simpler process than it was. But ‘simpler’ isn’t necessarily ‘simple’. There are a number of changes, so in this editorial we review the ‘contribution’ changes and look at what they mean for you.
1. New rules for the self-employed
What changes?
The self-employed will be able to claim a full tax deduction for up to $50,000 ($100,000 for the next few years for people over 50), of superannuation contributions each year. In addition, they will become eligible for the government co-contribution.
When does it apply?
From July 2007.
What does it mean?
For most self-employed people, it increases the level of tax deduction that can be claimed on superannuation contributions of more than $5,000 a year. It brings them more into line with employers.
The government currently contributes up to $1,500 a year to the superannuation funds of employees who make an undeducted contribution of up to $1,000 a year. This applies to people earning up to $58,000 a year, and this attractive benefit will be extended to the self-employed.
2. New limits on contributions
What changes?
The previous age-based limits on superannuation deductible contributions have been replaced by a flat amount of $50,000 per person per year. Undeducted contributions will now be capped at $150,000 per person per year. In the past, there was no limit to undeducted contributions.
When do they apply?
From May 2006 for undeducted contributions and 1 July 2007 for deductible contributions.
Who will be affected?
The changes to deductible contributions will mainly affect people over the age of 50 who have the financial means to contribute more than $50,000 a year to superannuation. To minimise any disadvantage to this group, the government has introduced transitional arrangements for the next few years, giving access to a cap of $100,000 a year.
Younger people will be able to make higher levels of deductible contributions than they can at present. The cap on undeducted contributions will disadvantage people who plan to make large contributions of after-tax money to superannuation, for example, by using the proceeds of the sale of an investment property. To minimise any adverse consequences, a cap of $1,000,000 applies from 10 may 2006 to 30 June 2007. Also, averaging provisions apply. People under 65 will be able to bring forward two years of undeducted contributions, and contribute up to $450,000 to superannuation at one time.
For most of us, these contribution limits are more than adequate. They’ll allow each person to put $200,000 into superannuation every year, and that’s well beyond the means of most people.
What does it mean?
The government is moving the focus from capping the amount that can be withdrawn from superannuation in a tax-advantaged way, to capping the amount that can be contributed to the superannuation tax haven.
A short glossary of financial terms
Deductable contributions
Contributions which will be claimed as a tax deduction. They include employer and some self employed contributions. Tax of 15% is deducted from these contributions by the superannuation fund.
Undeductable contributions
Contributions made from personal, after tax money for which no tax deduction is claimed by the contributor. These contributions are not taxed within the superannuation fund, however, earnings on undeducted contributions are taxed within the fund.
This information was supplied by Industry Fund Financial Planning (IFFP)
New Members
- Capital Star Motors
- Tez Automotive
- Micks Complete Auto Electrics
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