The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) decision to commence Federal Court proceedings against Subaru Australia over alleged breaches of the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme.

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MTAA, the national peak body representing Australia's automotive retail, service, repair and recycling industries, said the enforcement action sends an important signal that Australia's right to repair framework must be backed by meaningful compliance and accountability.

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"The right to repair framework matters for consumers, competition and the thousands of independent repair businesses our members represent across every state and territory," said MTAA Executive Director Bruce Billson.

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“The right to repair framework is essential to the commitment our servicing and repair businesses make to their customers: whatever wheels you choose, we keep you moving.”

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"We welcome the ACCC taking visible enforcement action. This is the kind of regulatory response MTAA has consistently called for."

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MTAA members have raised ongoing concerns about access to service and repair information and the effectiveness of existing compliance arrangements.

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MTAA has consistently argued that active enforcement is essential to ensure data providers meet their obligations and independent repairers receive the practical access the scheme was established to provide.

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"Enforcement action in response to alleged individual non-compliance is an important step, but it also highlights the need to make sure the scheme works effectively across the industry," Mr Billson said.

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"In our recent consultation with Treasury, MTAA proposed being recognised as a designated complainant under competition and consumer laws, allowing us to collate and escalate systemic concerns on behalf of our national membership and support the effective implementation of the scheme."

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"Individual workshops do not always have the time, resources or confidence to pursue complaints themselves. A designated complainant mechanism would help identify patterns of non-compliance, coordinate evidence and support more effective enforcement."

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The ACCC action also reinforces the importance of MTAA's broader recommendations to strengthen Australia's right to repair framework, including:

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                 • expanding right to repair arrangements to agricultural machinery.

                 • addressing barriers to timely access to parts.

                 • improving pricing transparency.

                 • ensuring the ACCC has sufficient resources to monitor and enforce compliance

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"The ACCC's action supports the case MTAA has been making for years. A right to repair framework only works if obligations are enforced and repairers have practical access to the information they need," Mr Billson said.

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MTAA's July submission to Treasury's discussion paper on enhancing Australia's right to repair laws is available at https://mtaa.com.au/advocacy-policy.

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ENDS

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Media contact

Claire Johnson

Motor Trades Association of Australia

P: +61 401 282 550

E: info@mtaa.com.au