The Federal Government has confirmed it will provide $9.9 million over five years from 2020/21 (and $1.2 million per year ongoing) to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to support the implementation of the Mandatory Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Scheme.
The ground-breaking legislation will see car manufacturers required to make the service and repair information of their vehicles available for purchase – at a fair rate – by independent repairers and registered training organisations.
The commitment was made public in the 2021 Federal Budget, following an announcement earlier in the year by Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar.
“We need a strong service and repair industry to keep Australia’s 19.8 million vehicles on the road. Currently, around one in 10 vehicles taken to repair workshops in Australia are affected by a lack of access to service and repair information. In Europe and the United States, similar schemes are delivering lower repair and maintenance costs for consumers,” said Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar.
Industry has welcomed the Federal Government's move, which is the result of tireless campaigning by peak bodies.
“VACC thanks its national body, the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), for its strong representation over a long period of time, along with the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Australian Automotive Dealer Association, and Australian Automobile Association, which have all worked collaboratively for the good of motorists and the broader industry,” said VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym.