The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) has welcomed the Federal Government's announcement to extend Right to Repair reforms to agricultural machinery, while calling for the initiative to be broadened to include heavy vehicles and motorcycles and other vehicle categories.
The announcement, made following a recent meeting of Federal and State Treasurers, represents a significant step forward in ensuring equipment owners have access to fair and competitive repair options.
"We're pleased to see the government recognising the importance of Right to Repair for agricultural machinery operators," interim executive director of MTAA, Peter Jones, said.
"Farmers and agricultural businesses deserve the freedom to choose where and how their equipment is repaired, and this reform will help reduce costs and downtime in a critical sector of our economy."
However, Jones emphasised that the reforms should extend further across the automotive and transport sectors.
"While we welcome this progress, it's essential that other sectors, such as heavy vehicles and motorcycles, are also included in Right to Repair protections," he said.
"Operators of trucks, buses, and motorcycles face the same challenges as agricultural machinery owners when it comes to accessing affordable repairs and maintaining their vehicles."
MTAA and its state motor trades associations have been advocating for comprehensive Right to Repair reforms for many years, working to ensure independent repairers have access to the tools, parts, and technical information needed to service modern vehicles and machinery.
"Right to Repair isn't just about consumer choice – it's about competition, productivity, and supporting the thousands of independent automotive businesses across Australia," Jones said.
"We look forward to working closely with the government to ensure these important reforms deliver real benefits for all sectors of the automotive industry."
The MTAA says it will continue to engage with federal and state governments to advocate for the expansion of Right to Repair protections across all vehicle categories.