Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury made a statement this week about the campaign to allow repairers access to manufacturer service and repair data. The statement says:
The Gillard Government has endorsed the need for a code of conduct between independent automotive repairers and car manufacturers to allow repairers access to the data they need to service modern cars, said Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury.
This is part of the Government's response to an inquiry by the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) into choice for consumers in the automotive repair market.
The Government will ask the Chairman of CCAAC, Mr Colin Neave AM, to monitor industry-led negotiations on a voluntary code of conduct, with a report to Government by mid-year. If industry representatives fail to make substantial progress on the code by the end of this year, the Government will start a process to examine other regulatory options, including a mandatory code of conduct.
Today's modern cars are fitted with sophisticated computers that require special technical information in order to repair and diagnose problems. However, not everyone can access this information which makes it difficult, or sometimes even impossible, for smaller and independent repairers to diagnose and fix problems.
Consumers and repairers have been frustrated about the lack of access to technical information, with motorists increasingly forced to take their cars to dealerships for servicing.
"Consumers should have the right to choose where they take their cars for service and repair," said Mr Bradbury.
"Modern cars are highly sophisticated machines that require access to data to allow repairers to diagnose and repair them.
"It is a source of great frustration for consumers when they take their car to an independent repairer only to find they cannot complete a service, not because they lack the skills or equipment, but because they cannot access the required data and technical information.
"This means that consumers are often left with no other choice than to take their car to the nearest dealership. This can prove particularly difficult for consumers in remote and regional areas, where the nearest dealership may be hours away.
"I welcome the efforts of independent repairers and car manufacturers to work out a way that this data can be made available so that consumers have a genuine choice and I will be closely monitoring the progress of these discussions.
"I will also be asking the nation's consumer affairs officials to develop an awareness campaign to educate consumers about their warranty rights.
"Under the Australian Consumer Law, suppliers have a legal obligation to guarantee the quality of goods and services.
"Any suggestion by car manufacturers that cars need to be serviced at a licensed dealer to maintain the owner's consumer guarantee rights, is not correct."
It is expected that an update on the voluntary code negotiations will be provided to Government mid-year.
Click here for more information about the Government's response to the CCAAC inquiry.