The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) today announced the appointment of the Hon Bruce Billson as its new Executive Director, effective today.
Mr Billson brings to the role an exceptional combination of senior government experience, deep understanding of the automotive sector, and a proven track record of championing the interests of small and family businesses across Australia.
A former Federal Member for the Victorian electorate of Dunkley, an area with strong historical links to automotive manufacturing and component production, including businesses supplying major vehicle makers such as Ford and General Motors, Mr Billson represented the interests of motor trades workers, businesses and their communities across seven terms in the Australian Parliament from 1996 to 2016.
During his distinguished parliamentary career, Mr Billson served as the Cabinet Minister for Small Business from 2013 to 2015, which included responsibility for competition policy and consumer affairs, where he earned a reputation for practical, consultative policy-making and deep engagement with the business community. He also served as Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, and as Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Most recently, Mr Billson completed a five-year term as the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), a role in which he was a tireless advocate for the nation's 2.6 million small and family enterprises. Over the office’s first decade, it responded to more than 60,000 requests for assistance, delivering dispute resolution, mental health support and policy advocacy on behalf of small business operators nationwide.
Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) CEO and former MTAA Interim Executive Director Peter Jones said the appointment marked an exciting new chapter for the national peak body representing Australia's automotive retail industry.
"Bruce Billson is a leader of rare calibre. He genuinely understands the challenges and opportunities facing the thousands of small and family businesses that make up the backbone of the Australian motor trades," Mr Jones said.
"His firsthand experience representing an electorate at the heart of Australia's automotive manufacturing base gives him an intuitive understanding of our industry that few can match. As a former Cabinet Minister and as the nation's Small Business Ombudsman, Bruce has consistently demonstrated that he is a fearless and effective advocate for the sectors he serves.
"Bruce's collaborative and collegiate approach to leadership is exactly what our industry needs as we navigate a period of significant transformation. The MTAA Board and its members are confident that under his stewardship, our national voice will be stronger than ever."
Mr Billson said he was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to working alongside MTAA's member associations, industry partners and government stakeholders.
"The motor trades sector is the lifeblood of communities right across Australia – from the family-owned repair workshop to the new car dealership, from parts suppliers to the roadside service operators who keep Australians moving every day," Mr Billson said.
"Having represented an electorate where automotive manufacturing and component production were central to local livelihoods, I understand deeply what this industry means to working families and local economies. That experience, combined with my years advocating for small and family businesses at the national level, has given me an enduring commitment to ensuring these enterprises have a strong, united voice in Canberra and beyond.
"I am genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I intend to engage collaboratively across the industry – with our state and territory member associations, with government at all levels, and with the broader automotive ecosystem – to ensure MTAA continues to deliver real outcomes for the motor trades.
"This is an industry defined by hard work, enterprise and community. I look forward to being part of that story and to working closely with MTAA’s members to champion the interests of the sector during a time of great change and great opportunity."
ENDS
Media contact
Andrew Molloy
Manager Marketing & Communications
Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce
P: 03 9829 1248 | M: 0457 188 375 | E: amolloy@vacc.com.au
