Page 6 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

NEWS
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8 AMA Developments • 8 Suncorp • 10 I-Car Awards • R U OK?
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
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Back row (l to r): Peter Coupland (WA); Brian Cowan (NSW) Morry Corvace (VACC); John Guest (VACC Division Manager). Middle Row (l to r): Richard Dudley (MTAA); Peter Donovan (NT); Marie Donato (WA); Paul Back (MTA-SA); Brenton Daniel (NSW).Front Row (l to r): Jeff Williams (SA); Guido Merlo (NT); Anthony Nazor (MTA-ACT; Michael Burke (ACT)
CORVASCE RETIRES
‘cross-the-line’ and accept underfund- ed insurance work.
“These recent determinations are a lit- tle too late for me,” he said.
Corvasce closed by saying he is very disappointed that politicians have not acted quickly enough to regulate the Code in Victoria.
VACC Chief Executive Officer Geoff Gwilym said that Corvasce’s legacy is ingrained within VACC’s Body Repair Division.
“At all times, Morry proved himself to be ethical and thorough, and he instinc- tively fought the good fight for his many colleagues in the body repair industry.”
MORRY CORVASCE, CHAIR OF THE VACC
Body Repair Division (BRD) for the past eight years and Vice Chair of the Austral- ian Motor Body Repair Association (AM- BRA), has announced his retirement.
VACC reports “in a bold move and one based on ethics and dignity, he also closed down LP Body Works, a family held collision repair business since 1966.”
It is with a heavy heart that Corv- asce says “enough is enough”. When queried Corvasce explains that he will
not compromise customers’ vehicles regardless of how much pressure ma- jor insurers place on him to accept un- derfunded activities.
He is saddened that the Victorian Gov- ernment has not yet mandated the Code in Victoria. Corvasce is pleased that re- cent determinations should help small business repairers to be paid what they are entitled.
Corvasce is resolute that he, like many other repair businesses, will not
2019 GAME CHANGER
HE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION
of Australia (MTAA) and the
Australian Motor Body Re- pairers Association (AMBRA) has issued a warning to repair business owners to be vigilant when considering contracts offered by insur-
ance companies.
At a national meeting in Sydney in De-
cember 2018, AMBRA delegates and ob- servers from all states and territories dis- cussed complaints received from some members that they were being pressured to sign contracts, as a preferred repairer for an insurance company; or for the pro- vision of vehicle repair work; or authority to undertake a repair. MTAA and AM- BRA again urged repair businesses to seek legal and financial advice on any contracts before signing to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, particularly inregardtoregulationsonunfaircon- tract terms and conditions.
MTAA and AMBRA said it was also important for repair businesses to con- tinue to familiarise themselves and, where appropriate, use the national in- dustry Code of Conduct. The call fol- lows examination of notified disputes including trending causes; disputes proceeding to mediation; and in par-
ticular the implications of two recent determinations provided in Victoria and NSW. The determinations, which in accordance with requirements of the Code of Conduct are binding, conclude two disputes that were raised under the dispute mediation and determination provisions of the Code.
MTAA and AMBRA also resolved to investigate and implement additional support measures to assist highly stressed motor body repair business owners and will prepare additional com- munications to strengthen ‘R U OK’ ini- tiatives and provide improved links to qualified assistance such as Lifeline, Be- yond Blue and other services.
AMBRA reviewed a busy 2018 includ- ing significant work by MTAA, State and Territory association members and
AMBRA on matters including reports and submissions to: the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superan- nuation and Financial Services Industry; the Australian Competition and Consum- er Commission; and the Western Australia Parliamentary Inquiry into that State’s collision repair industry, which has led to MPs in WA calling for an Australian Com- petition and Consumer Commission in- quiryintoclaimsof'marketabuse'.
2019 is shaping as a watershed year for the long term viability, sustainability and profitability of the motor vehicle re- pair industry with AMBRA, MTAA and State and Territory association members determining future actions and opera- tions as the industry strives for a safe, viable, sustainable, profitable, motor body repair in.