AAAA News

The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a formal review into the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS) — Australia’s first Right to Repair law — which came into effect in July 2022.

“This is a law we are incredibly proud of — because we fought for it,” said AAAA Chief Executive Officer Stuart Charity. “We spent ten years building the case, standing firm against powerful multinational car companies, and working with government and regulators to make Australia the first country outside the United States to legislate a mandatory data sharing regime for motor vehicle service and repair.”

The review, led by Treasury as part of the Albanese Government’s National Competition Policy reform agenda, will assess whether the Scheme is meeting its legislated objectives, including:

• Promoting competition in the service and repair market.
• Supporting consumer choice of repairer.
• Ensuring affordable and fair access to service and repair information.
• Protecting safety and security information.
• Supporting technical training and workforce capability.
• Providing effective dispute resolution.

“The law was a game-changer for our sector,” said Charity. “It gave independent workshops fair access to essential repair information and helped drive down costs for consumers. But the way vehicles are built, serviced and connected has changed rapidly — and the law must evolve with it.”

The AAAA will make a detailed submission to the review and has identified several key areas where reform is urgently needed:

• Telematics and real-time vehicle data: As more diagnostics move online, access to telematics data is essential. The current law excludes telematics, leaving independent repairers at a growing disadvantage.
• Access to online logbooks and service histories: The Scheme does not cover electronic logbooks, allowing manufacturers to use service history as a lever to steer customers away from independent workshops.
• Clarity for data aggregators: These third-party platforms help translate complex OEM information into practical repair workflows. The current treatment of aggregators under the law creates legal uncertainty and could jeopardise access.
• Standardised access tools and costs: Some manufacturers limit access to information via locked-down proprietary tools. AAAA is calling for support for open, standardised protocols like SAE J2534 to reduce costs and barriers.
• Better training access for safety-critical systems: Repairers must meet ‘fit and proper person’ tests to access high-voltage and security-related data — but training is not always available or recognised, creating unintended blocks.
• Transparent pricing and stronger enforcement: The law requires ‘fair market value’ for data access, but enforcement remains weak. Some brands still charge excessive fees or restrict access in breach of the rules.

Charity also warned that the review must not be used as an opportunity to water down the law.

“We know from experience that global car manufacturers will try to crawl back into the Australian public policy debate to reclaim control. We cannot let them succeed,” he said. “This law was designed to serve consumers, small business workshops, and Australia’s technical workforce — and we must defend and improve it, not retreat from it.”

The Scheme applies to all passenger and light goods vehicles built since January 2002 and is backed by enforcement powers held by the ACCC. Dispute resolution and industry compliance are overseen by the Scheme Adviser, the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority (AASRA). The consultation period runs until 5 August 2025, with details available on the Treasury website.

The AAAA also welcomes Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh’s decision to reappoint AASRA as Scheme Adviser for a further two-year term — a move that signals confidence in AASRA’s role and provides valuable continuity and industry support as the Scheme matures.

“Right to Repair is not a one-off win — it’s a long game,” said Charity. “This review is our opportunity to finish what we started: a future-proof law that guarantees fair access to repair information and puts consumers firmly in the driver’s seat.”