Mechanics, including the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to extend Right to Repair reforms to agricultural machinery, following an announcement made after Friday’s meeting of Federal and State Treasurers.
The move marks a substantial step toward improving access to fair and competitive repair options for equipment owners in a sector that relies heavily on minimising downtime.
“We’re pleased to see the government recognising the importance of Right to Repair for agricultural machinery operators,” said Peter Jones, Interim Executive Director of MTAA.
“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.”
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Despite the progress, Mr Jones stressed that the reforms should not stop at agriculture, arguing that Australia’s automotive and transport sectors also face similar challenges.
“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.”
Right on
MTAA and its state-based motor trades associations have long campaigned for a comprehensive Right to Repair framework, pushing for independent workshops to have access to the necessary tools, parts, and technical data required to service increasingly complex machinery and vehicles.
“Right to Repair isn’t just about consumer choice – it’s about competition, productivity, and supporting the thousands of independent automotive businesses across Australia,” Mr 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 confirmed it will continue working with federal and state governments to advocate for Right to Repair protections to be expanded across all vehicle categories.