Support for ‘severe initial lockdown’
The Motor Industry Association (MIA) advises the default position for distributors and their franchised dealers under level-four lockdown is they must close.
They are, however, permitted to run skeleton services to ensure essential vehicles and vehicles for essential workers remain available.
“From an MIA perspective, it is always disappointing when we need to enter another nationwide lockdown again,” says chief executive David Crawford, pictured.
“With the delta variant and its increased aggressivity, a community outbreak is something we anticipated and, therefore, another lockdown might become necessary.
“Given what we have seen in Australia, where a moderate and paced approach to containing the virus has not worked, we support the philosophy of a fast and severe initial lockdown period to provide the government with the time to assess the extent of community infection.
“Linking the current community cases to a known source will be vital to an early lift in the level-four lockdown.
“Every day we are in level four scrubs tens of millions of dollars out of the economy, just from our sector alone.”
Crawford adds the collective advice from the MIA, Motor Trade Association and the Crash Repair Association to its members has been along the lines of:
• This is not business as usual many businesses as possible must close. The default position needs to be “close your business”. Employees and on-site contractors must stay at home and work from home if they can. Your franchised dealers must do likewise.
• You may supply parts and vehicles for essential vehicles, or for people’s vehicles who are essential workers.
• Likewise repair services are essential, but only to support other essential services so if a repair service company wants parts, you can supply them. Keep records so that you can demonstrate the parts were necessary for an essential vehicle, or the vehicle of an essential worker.
• If you do open, ensure operating processes that reduce risk of the spread of the virus.
• You need to have systems in place to ensure those claiming to be essential workers can demonstrate they are, such as couriers, farmers, doctors, emergencies services, supermarket staff, health workers and so on.
• The best course of action is to provide known essential-service customers with a contact number, and to place messages on premises, websites and phones to give people a number to phone if they need assistance – as long as they are an essential service, business or worker.
