Experience counts as Schmidt stands aside to contest state election
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has elected a new president to chair its executive committee.
Grant Robins of Kulin Transport takes over from the departing Liz Schmidt, who stood aside after a year as the ALRTA’s president.
Robins has been a president of the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia (LRTAWA) for seven years and a vice-president of ALRTA for several years.
Schmidt says Robbins won the role because of his experience.
“Grant has been an excellent contributor with the LRTAWA and ALRTA for many years, and I know he will have strong support from the National Council to continue to fight to improve the rural transport sector,” Robins says.
“I want to thank the ALRTA National Council and secretariat for their strong support over the past 12 months.
“I might have been the captain but ALRTA is a ‘team sport’ and we only win matches by working together.”
Schmidt, who has been pre-selected to contest for the seat of Dalrymple in the upcoming Queensland state election, chose not to re-elect for the ALRTA role at a recent annual general meeting.
“The president’s position is rewarding but also highly demanding,” she says.
“With a Queensland election on the horizon, it was time to hand over the reins to someone who can make a full commitment – and Grant is just the person.”
She has described the last year being as a ‘transitional year’ for association, which became fully-operational on August 1.
“Eighteen months ago we were totally reliant on HGH Consulting to resource our national secretariat and August 1 marked our first day of direct control.
“We now have our own staff, our own office and our own equipment. We are also upgrading our business systems to be as efficient as possible and to take advantage of modern capabilities.”