The NMVTRC is not a body that imposes changes on its stakeholders. Rather the stakeholders form the NMVTRC and its theft reduction work is carried out by the stakeholders for the benefit of the wider community.

The key stakeholder groups represented directly on the NMVTRC are:

• All Australian governments through the Crime Prevention Ministerial Forum.
• Independent Chair (David Morgan)
• The insurance industry through the Insurance Council of Australia Ltd.
• All police services through the Australasian Police Ministers' Council.
• Vehicle registration bodies through Austroads, the national association of road transport and safety authorities.
• Vehicle manufacturers through the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
• All motoring service organisations through the Australian Automobile Association.
• The retail motor trades through the Motor Trades' Association of Australia.
• All relevant Commonwealth agencies through the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department.

It is not possible for all organisations with a valuable contribution to make to be directly represented on the Council. However, the NMVTRC recognises the importance of remaining open to the views, and being inclusive of, as many relevant stakeholders as possible.

Stakeholder activity

Many of the NMVTRC's stakeholders are involved in vehicle theft prevention reform directly related to the momentum generated by the NMVTRC.

Registration Processes

In April 1999, state and territory Transport Ministers agreed to progress reforms that complement the NMVTRC's objectives, in national information exchange and registration procedures to reduce the likelihood of stolen vehicles being re-registered. The implementation process is close to completion and has included the continued development and phased implementation of the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System, the introduction of written-off vehicle registers, and the introduction of consistent proof of identity requirements for vehicle registration transactions across jurisdictions

Vehicle Design

In motor vehicle design, quite significant progress has been made with the introduction of an Australian Design Rule for immobilisers. As a result, all new passenger vehicles sold in Australia after July 2001 have an engine immobiliser fitted as standard equipment.

Several manufacturers have also taken responsibility for improving their vehicles' identification with more than 80,000 new vehicles (or 15 per cent of new vehicle sales) sold this year to carry a VIN-based microdot identification system.

The NMVTRC is also working with vehicle manufacturers to encourage the timely introduction of new security label technology that addresses the deficiencies of existing aluminium identification plates. The vehicle security label has established a new baseline in improved vehicle identification.

Justice

The exposure of police and registration authorities to sophisticated professional theft networks has highlighted the need for rigorous systems and procedures to reduce the opportunities for professional thieves to exploit system or procedural loopholes. The ability of interstate networks of criminals to exploit deficiencies in states and territory information systems is being counteracted by improved national information exchange between police and registration authorities, and more effective targeting of criminal networks by police nationally.

Three demonstration youth programs across Australia based on the NMVTRC's best practice model were established for trial and evaluation. The programs target young, high-rate recidivist theft offenders, often as an alternative or in addition to a custodial sentence. The program's evaluation will provide research to inform future justice agency responses to youth offending. The results to date are promising with one program trial complete and, based on its success, now funded by government of its home state.

Insurance

The insurance industry has continued to take a leading role in motor vehicle theft prevention as a major strategic and funding partner of the NMVTRC. The funding provided by the industry in conjunction with the state and territory governments underpins the NMVTRC's work.

Individual insurance companies and the industry through the Insurance Council of Australia, regularly undertake major promotional campaigns in conjunction with other stakeholders to inform motorists of the seriousness of vehicle theft and the importance of taking responsibility to secure their vehicle.