The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has expressed deep concern over a proposal by NSW Fair Trading that would prohibit trained and qualified light vehicle technicians from servicing or repairing battery electric vehicles (BEVs) unless they complete an additional mandatory course — AURSS00064 Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set.
The proposal, outlined in a draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), imposes sweeping restrictions on the automotive repair industry with no accompanying economic assessment, no data on how many BEVs are on NSW roads, no analysis of the real-world impacts on workshops or consumers, and no workable transition plan.
The RIS also fails to outline how many technicians currently hold the required Skill Set – with industry estimates suggesting fewer than 50 qualified technicians across NSW, despite there being more than 80,000 BEVs already in operation.
AAAA chief executive officer Stuart Charity said the lack of basic facts and planning raises serious concerns about both process and policy.
“The RIS does not estimate how many vehicles may be left without service providers, does not assess the cost of upskilling, and does not confirm how many Training Organisations are equipped to deliver the training. There is no system for recognising prior learning, no support to upskill existing qualified technicians, and no phase-in period. This is regulation without a plan,” Charity said.
“We agree that technicians working on high-voltage vehicles must be trained and competent – and that’s already happening. But this proposal creates a legislative barrier that will drastically reduce the number of qualified service providers overnight. It will drive up costs for consumers and cause serious delays in repair and servicing.”
The AAAA warns that without a proper transition plan, the supply of qualified technicians will collapse from 2 September 2025 – and with it, the ability of thousands of NSW motorists to access timely and affordable EV servicing.
“The RIS claims universal stakeholder support for the proposal — but the AAAA did not support the proposed changes and is surprised to see them framed as broadly endorsed,” Charity said.
“If a technician can safely service a Toyota hybrid, why are they banned from touching a BEV? The logic simply doesn’t hold. Hybrid vehicles include high voltage components but are exempt under this proposal – yet BEVs are not. The only explanation is that the department didn’t consider the real-world impact. It is ironic that a department tasked with ‘Better Regulation’ is rushing through changes that are so poorly thought out.”
To prevent service disruption and protect consumers from unintended costs and delays, the AAAA is calling for a five-year transition period. This would give government and industry time to work together on flexible upskilling options, establish a proper recognition-of-prior-learning system, and ensure the training infrastructure is ready to meet demand.
“This is not just a workforce issue — it’s a consumer issue,” Charity added.
“This rushed approach will reduce access to essential repair services and increase costs for NSW motorists.”
The AAAA is urging the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, The Hon Anoulack Chanthivong MP, to take a fresh look at the proposal and instruct the department to engage with industry on a practical, evidence-based transition plan.