Rebekha welcomes 'Right to Repair' inquiry

2 Nov 2020

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has welcomed the announcement that the Productivity Commission will investigate consumers' rights to repair faulty goods at reasonable prices.

The Right to Repair Inquiry was announced by the Federal Government late last week and will consider a range of issues impacting the Australian repair market, including potential barriers and enablers of greater competition.

One of the key markets is electronic goods with many owners of smartphones and tablets hit with significant bills because they are unable to get items such as faulty mobile phones and other electronic devices fixed for a reasonable charge.

“While electronic goods are a key focus of this inquiry, I am advised that the Productivity Commission also has scope to look at other Right to Repair issues such as farmers having access to software so they can repair their own machinery and small business car repairers being able to service the latest model vehicles,” Rebekha said.

“I have also been advised by the office of the Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar that the Government still intends to introduce legislation to implement a mandatory information sharing scheme for motor vehicle service and repairs.

“The scheme was the subject of a Treasury consultation process last year and follows ongoing complaints from independent mechanics who have been unable to access essential technical information about new model vehicles at a fair and reasonable cost.

“This has been an issue raised by mum and dad businesses in my electorate and around the nation who have been blocked from working on new vehicles by manufacturers refusing to release the necessary information for working on today’s computerised vehicles.

“These are local mechanics struggling to stay in business while the big car manufacturers are monopolising their technical information in order to lock vehicle owners into their own ‘authorised’ service centres at often over-inflated prices.

“I welcome the Government’s announcement that it will introduce legislation, possibly early next year.”

The Productivity Commission Right to Repair inquiry is due to report to Government within 12 months.

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