During June the AADA team conducted a wide-reaching regional tour across Southern NSW and Eastern Victoria, engaging directly with dealers to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the automotive retail industry.
The visit began in the ACT with a working lunch in Canberra with David Smith MP, Federal Member for Bean. The discussion focused on the impact of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) and the broader issue of rising business costs in the ACT. We thank Mr Smith for his time and his attentiveness to the concerns of local dealers.
From Canberra, the AADA team travelled through Goulburn and the Snowy Valleys, stopping in at Goulburn Toyota and Goulburn Mazda to meet with Dealer Principal David Albrighton, and then to Tumut Toyota, where owner Tim O’Malley showcased a business that is not only a strong local employer but also deeply embedded in the community through its support of local sports and service organisations.
In Albury-Wodonga, the team was hosted at Jacob Toyota’s impressive new facility, where a well-attended regional briefing was held. We thank Dean and Neville Jacob for their hospitality and leadership within the local dealer network, which employs over 600 staff. While in the area, we also met with Michael Dixon from Blacklocks Ford.
The day concluded in Wangaratta with a visit to Ovens Ford and Ovens Kia, meeting with Dealer Principal Ashley McIlroy from Value Auto Group, before heading into Victoria for the next leg of the tour.
The second half of the trip focused on Gippsland and south-east Victoria, conducted in partnership with the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) under the organisations’ recently signed Memorandum of Understanding.
In Bairnsdale, we were hosted by Anthony Dwyer at Dwyers Toyota and Bairnsdale Mazda, followed by a tour of The Big Garage with Dealer Principal Darren Robbie. The team continued to Sale for a dealer lunch hosted by Anthony Cefala of King-Church Motors and Ross Nicholas of Sale Ford.
That evening in Traralgon, we held a dealer meeting at Traralgon Toyota, with thanks to Gary Shannahan for hosting and joining the team for dinner. The tour concluded in Warragul with a dealer briefing at Warragul City Motors, hosted by Shaun Donaldson and Craig Emery, and a final working lunch in Pakenham with Paul Clough of Pakenham Mazda.
Across both regions, common themes emerged in our conversations with dealers. Key issues raised included regulatory changes, workforce shortages, growing concerns around profitability in the EV space, enforcement of Australian Consumer Law, and ongoing challenges relating to OEM and third-party practices.
AADA thanks all participating dealers for their time and insights, and VACC for their support throughout the Gippsland leg. These regional visits are a vital part of our advocacy work, ensuring that dealer voices continue to shape the national conversation.