Farmers to Gain Greater Control Over Machinery Repairs as Right-to-Repair Laws Extend to Agriculture

Australian farmers are set to gain far greater control over how they repair their machinery following a landmark update to right-to-repair legislation.

At the start of December, it was announced that the Federal Government had agreed to extend right-to-repair laws to agricultural equipment, a move welcomed across the industry as a practical reform that could reduce downtime and cut costs for farmers nationwide.

The change was confirmed at a November meeting of state and territory treasurers, with legislation now expected to follow shortly. For farmers, this means easier access to the parts, tools, and technical information required to service machinery independently, without being restricted to dealer-only servicing.

Shona Gawel, CEO of GrainGrowers, described the reform as a long-awaited win for the sector. “

This will give farmers more choice, reduce repair costs, and ensure machinery stays operational when timing is critical,” she said.

With harvest underway across much of the country, Ms Gawel added that the timing of the announcement could not be better. She credited years of advocacy from Grain Growers, the National Farmers Federation (NFF), and other industry groups in bringing the issue to the forefront of government policy.

Sean Cole, Grain Growers’ Advocacy and Rural Affairs Manager, explained that these changes had been sought by the agricultural sector for more than a decade.

“At the moment, many machines costing over $100,000 aren’t covered under existing repair laws,” he said. “Farmers often can’t fix equipment themselves or call in a local mechanic without risking their warranties. During harvest, waiting several days for dealer assistance can result in substantial losses.”

The reform is expected to provide a solution, allowing farmers and independent repairers to access essential parts, diagnostic tools, and know-how. Mr Cole emphasised that the initiative creates a level playing field for local mechanics and other third-party service providers, potentially fostering a competitive market that did not previously function effectively.

The next step will see agricultural machinery incorporated into the existing motor vehicle service and repair information-sharing scheme.

“They’re ironing out a few kinks before implementation, but this will bring agricultural equipment under the same framework that already exists for light vehicles,” Mr Cole said.

Industry leaders across the country commended the announcement and what benefits it'll have for the industry. NFF President Hamish McIntyre said the change will give farmers the freedom to choose who services their machinery, reducing downtime and enabling more control over their operations. Victorian Farmers’ Federation President Brett Hosking noted that the move aligns Australia with international competitors and responds to years of recommendations from regulators and industry experts. And New South Wales Farmers’ Association President Xavier Martin highlighted the practical benefits, saying growers will now be able to rely on qualified local repairers without the long waits and high costs that have previously hindered efficiency.