Single Point of Contact for Auto Industry Assistance

26 Jun 09

Senator Kim Carr, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and Victorian Industry and Trade Minister, Martin Pakula, announced this week that the Australian and Victorian governments were each providing $75,000 toward a Supplier Assistance Coordinator position based with the Federation of Automotive Products Manufacturers (FAPM).

Stewart Leslie, former Chairman of KPMG's Automotive Industry Focus Group, has been appointed to the position for 12 months.

A key task will be to help local automotive companies access the range of government programs available to help them boost their productivity.

Programs under the Australian government’s $6.2 billion A New Car Plan for a Greener Future include the Automotive Transformation Scheme, the Automotive Supply Chain Development Program, and the Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program.

Victorian government programs include the Industry Transition Fund and the Automotive Manufacturing Action Plan.

Senator Carr said that the Australian automotive industry is the backbone of Australian manufacturing and the coordinator would play a key role in its future.

"This is an industry with the capacity to adapt and renew itself, an evolution that will be made easier by this new position.”

Pakula said that the Supplier Assistance Coordinator will provide independent, confidential advice and assistance.

“The coordinator will be a single point of contact with initial consultation services provided to both FAPM members and non-members free-of-charge.”

Stewart Leslie has been providing advisory services to Australian automotive industry in manufacturing, retail and aftersales since 1977, including as a KPMG partner from 1986 to 2001.

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