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Coalition releases weak repair info consultation paper
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Coalition releases weak repair info consultation paper

12 February 2019

The Liberal/National Coalition’s long-awaited consultation paper into the mandatory sharing of vehicle service and repair information has been released, and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has found it wanting.

In the lead-up to the next Federal election Australian motorists – all 15 million of them – will consider this significant consumer issue as they enter polling booths and decide on this country’s next Federal Government. 

The Mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information consultation paper was released today by the Assistant Minister for Finance Senator Zed Seselja, who stated that the Coalition will support the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s call for a mandated code, effectively forcing vehicle manufacturers into sharing all relevant vehicle service and repair information with aftermarket repairers. But there is one significant problem – the paper lacks any penalties if manufacturers fail to comply.

VACC has called on the Coalition to revise its paper to include significant penalties in a bid to garner large-scale compliance.         

“If a ‘mandated code’ has no penalties for non-compliance it will not work in the real world” declared VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym.

The call for a mandated code has been communicated loud and clear to government for some time. Neither the automotive industry nor Australian motorists will be satisfied until it is a genuine mandated code with explicit penalties in place if manufacturers don't play by the rules.

The expectation placed on manufacturers need to be fully explained, as well as the penalties enforced if obligations are not fulfilled. VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym, maintains that the time for consultation has long since expired – and that all sides of government need to get on with the job of making a mandated code a reality. 

Listen to VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym speaking to 3AW's Neil Mitchell. 

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