The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) has thanked all industry stakeholders for their valuable input during the consultation period on proposed reforms to the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct.
The formal consultation process is now closed, with strong engagement received from across the automotive sector.
MTAA says it appreciated the extensive feedback and constructive contributions submitted by repairers, assessing and claims companies, individuals, industry bodies and the consideration contribution from the Motor Trades Associations and VACC.
MTAA says it has now lodged its formal submission, which outlines a detailed analysis of the draft Code, highlights areas requiring amendment, and puts forward recommendations to address structural imbalances identified through consultation.
These recommendations will be presented to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as part of negotiations to finalise a revised Code.
MTAA believes the current draft Code is not fit for purpose. Rather than addressing long-standing concerns around fairness and transparency, the draft risks entrenching insurer dominance and undermining professional repairer judgement.
According to the MTAA, without meaningful reform, the draft Code will fall short of delivering the balanced, future-focused framework that industry and consumers expect.
MTAA says its objective is to ensure the final Code is fair, enforceable, and workable for all parties. Negotiations with the ICA are expected to conclude by the end of 2025, with the revised Code scheduled for implementation in early 2026.
The MTAA team is now reviewing feedback in detail and will be continuing discussions with the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA) in preparation for the negotiation phase.
MTAA’s full submission to the Code review is available here