VICTORIA continued to dominate Australia's $4.5 billion caravan
industry last year, accounting for almost half its total economic
contribution and almost two-thirds of its manufacturing jobs.
But the state's peak body for the industry admitted there was "still much
to do" to raise business standards to match the expectations of
"increasingly knowledgeable and sophisticated" customers.
The Caravan Industry Association of Victoria has welcomed a major report
showing that the state is still the heartland of Australia's booming
caravan industry and the national leader for every major metric.
Chief executive Rob Lucas said it led not only in jobs and economic
contribution, but in revenue, the number of enterprises, value-add and
payroll.
"Manufacturing is the bedrock of Victoria's strength, accounting for 74
percent of jobs in the component sector and in building motorhomes and
traditional caravans," he said.
"Even when we allow for Queensland's strong position in manufacturing
camper trailers, we still account for 64 percent of all manufacturing jobs
– a massive total of 4123 jobs.
'Take heart
from the caravan industry'
|
"To put that in perspective, that's more than the total manufacturing jobs
at Toyota, Holden and Ford combined before they ceased manufacturing.
"Anyone who thinks manufacturing is dead in Australia should take heart
from the caravan industry nationally, and especially in Victoria."
The state's 1000-plus caravan-related enterprises include Australia's
biggest caravan and component manufacturers, along with a thriving retail,
repair and servicing sector.
Mr Lucas said these enterprises accounted for a payroll and value-add
total of $680 million, or 42 percent of the national figure.
"Whichever way you look at it, Victoria’s caravan industry makes a massive
contribution to the nation as a whole.
"What's more, that figure is not standing still – over the past six years
we have seen a 28 percent increase in jobs and a 50 percent increase in
our total economic contribution."
Mr Lucas said the industry’s growth in Victoria was driven by the
Victorian Caravan and Camping Industry Blueprint, launched by CIA VIC in
2012.
"Two of the most important elements of our Blueprint are training and
industry standards, and we have made real progress in both of these
areas," he said.
"We have had good support from successive state
governments, led by the Department of Economic Development, the Department
of Education & Training and of course Tourism.
"The job is not over, but our industry development and training
initiatives are moving us relentlessly in the right direction."
