News in brief

ASA appointment
Geoff Gwilym has been appointed the first chief executive officer of Auto Skills Australia (ASA). ASA was established in late 2010 and has assumed responsibility for the automotive training packages Automotive Retail, Service and Repair AUR05 and Automotive Manufacturing AUM08. “Automotive technology is constantly updated so we must ensure our training keeps pace with the changing industry environment,” Gwilym said.

Victoria records worst ever vehicle safety figures
A VACC study has found that 35 per cent of vehicles tested, in the first quarter of 2011, were unsafe. This is the highest ever percentage recorded by VACC since vehicle safety data was first collected in 2005.

Thatcham in Thailand
Thatcham, the British motor insurers’ research centre, has signed a two-year contract with the Thailand General Insurance Association to deliver vehicle premium risk rating and alternative parts accreditation to the Thai market.

AMBRA dispute resolution
Australian Motor Body Repairer Association (AMBRA) members will all share MTA NSW's on-line MVIRI Code of Conduct internal dispute resolution forms (IDRs). The online form is a quick and efficient way to lodge an effective dispute with an insurance company as it is recorded by your local MTA, who passes it on to the insurers and follows it up if the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction within specific time limits.

NSW MTA body repair division chairman
Tod Sarina of Sarina Prestige Smash Repairs in Penrith, Sydney, has been voted in as chairman of the MTA’s body repair division.