A repair summit has highlighted the productivity gains created by right to repair legislation and gained the endorsement of government, farmers and repair organisations.
Three years since the right to repair legislation was passed, the assistant minister for Competition Andrew Leigh told the summit the Right to Repair has become a cornerstone productivity reform rather than a niche consumer issue.
It is estimated 65 per cent of independent automotive repairers have reported productivity improvements, and vehicle turn aways are down 40 per cent by gaining more efficient access to OEM data, repair techniques and diagnostic tools.
Massive boost
Treasury analysis also shows the sector turnover has increased by about 6.7 per cent—equating to $1.8 billion in annual productivity growth.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) who have long championed the legislation addressed the summit on the productivity benefits to the automotive industry through the Motor Vehicle Information Sharing (MVIS) Scheme.
It is also seeking to hasve its sucsees replicated further including in the agricultural famring sector
AAAA CEO Stuart Charity says the productivity success of MVIS administered by AASRA should serve as the model for future initiatives.
“MVIS has shown how smart, sector-specific reform can lift productivity and competition,” Charity says,
“Applying those same principles—secure access to data, tools and training at fair market value—will help agriculture and other sectors realise similar benefits. The Summit has built strong momentum for that next step.”
AAAA Director of Government Relations and Advocacy Lesley Yates says said the Summit had shown right to repair was about consumer choice but it was also about the efficiency of the repair industry.
“When information and tools are available on fair terms, workshops and farms get back to work faster, costs fall and communities benefit.”
Farming potential
Dr Leigh told the summit R2R reform is now embedded in mainstream productivity policy across the European Union, the United States and Canada and highlighted the Productivity Commission’s finding of a potential $97 million annual GDP uplift from introducing agricultural Right to Repair reforms.
Contributions were also made by Professor Leanne Wiseman, Sean Cole from the GrainGrowers Association.