The release of the Liberal/National Coalition’s consultation paper into the mandatory sharing of vehicle service and repair information has received a lukewarm reception from the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).
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 Coalition’s paper lacks any penalties whatsoever if manufacturers fail to comply with the directive.
“Frankly, this document is not worth the paper it’s printed on,” said VACC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gwilym.
“If a ‘mandated code’ has no penalties for non-compliance it will not work in the real world.”
VACC calls on the Coalition to revise its paper to include significant penalties in a bid to garner large-scale compliance.
“VACC has been calling for a mandated code for a long time now. We will not be satisfied until it is a genuine mandated code: this means that there are explicit penalties if manufacturers fail in their obligations to share the information for which they are obliged.”
Mr Gwilym says 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.
“All stakeholders know what’s expected. But relying on good will has simply not worked in the past. The industry needs the next Federal Government to mandate a code of conduct where expectations are fully explained, along with the ramifications for those OEMs who will not play fair.”
The Australian Labor Party is on record as supporting a mandated code for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information.
“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,” said Mr Gwilym.