AAAA Welcomes Next Step In Right To Repair Reform
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s release of a discussion paper proposing to expand Australia’s Right to Repair framework to agricultural machinery and deliver targeted improvements to the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS).
AAAA Chief Executive Officer Stuart Charity said the release of the paper was a significant and practical next step in strengthening competition, consumer choice and productivity across repair markets.
“AAAA congratulates the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, for his continued leadership on Right to Repair and competition reform,” Mr Charity said.
“This is a very welcome development. It shows the Government understands that Right to Repair is not an abstract policy debate — it is about keeping vehicles, machinery, businesses and communities moving.
“For motorists, farmers and small businesses, timely and affordable access to repair is critical. Whether it is a family car, a delivery vehicle or a tractor during harvest, people need the freedom to choose where they get their vehicle or machinery repaired.”
The discussion paper proposes to extend Right to Repair principles to agricultural machinery, while also addressing a number of practical issues identified through the review of the MVIS.
The proposals include reforms to improve access to electronic logbook information, recognise the critical role of intermediaries such as data aggregators and tool manufacturers, improve transparency around scheme pricing, reduce regulatory burdens around safety information, and streamline access to security-related repair information. The paper also proposes improvements to scheme governance, reporting and enforcement arrangements.
Mr Charity said the detail of the paper was encouraging because it focused on the real-world barriers that determine whether independent repairers can genuinely compete.
“The success of Right to Repair depends on practical access,” Mr Charity said.
“It is not enough for repair information to exist somewhere in theory. Independent repairers need timely, affordable and workable access through the tools, systems and workflows they actually use every day.
“That is why proposals dealing with electronic logbooks, intermediaries, scheme pricing, safety information and security information are so important. These are the issues that determine whether the scheme works on the workshop floor.”
The Government has noted that the existing motor vehicle scheme has been broadly successful, supporting growth in independent repair workshops, greater consumer choice and a $2.4 billion expansion in annual sector turnover. The Government is now seeking feedback on extending the framework to agricultural machinery and improving the operation of the existing motor vehicle scheme.
Mr Charity said AAAA strongly supported the Government’s recognition that Right to Repair reforms should continue to evolve as vehicles, machinery and repair markets become more digital and data-driven.
“Modern repair is increasingly shaped by access to data, software, diagnostic tools, electronic service histories and security-related information,” he said.
“If independent repairers are locked out of those systems, consumers lose choice and competition is weakened. The proposals in this paper go directly to those practical competition issues.”
Mr Charity said AAAA would engage constructively through the consultation process.
“AAAA has long championed the right of consumers to choose who repairs and services their vehicle,” he said.
“We welcome this discussion paper and congratulate the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP and the Government for taking the next step.
“These reforms are about fairness, competition and productivity. They are about backing skilled independent repairers, many of them small businesses, who keep Australians moving every day.
“We look forward to working closely with Treasury, government and industry stakeholders to ensure the next stage of Right to Repair reform is practical, effective and delivers real benefits for consumers, farmers, repairers and the broader economy.”