Government Seeks Feedback on Right to Repair Reforms

The Federal Government is seeking feedback on proposed Right to Repair reforms aimed at improving access to machinery repair information for farmers and independent workshops.

The Albanese Government last week released a discussion paper outlining plans to expand Australia’s existing motor vehicle information sharing scheme to include agricultural machinery.

Under the proposal, independent repairers would gain greater access to service and diagnostic information currently provided by manufacturers, helping farmers access faster and potentially cheaper repairs.

The Government says the reforms are designed to reduce machinery downtime, improve competition in regional repair markets and help lower costs for farm businesses facing ongoing supply chain and cost pressures.

The Productivity Commission estimates extending Right to Repair laws to agriculture could add almost ninety-seven million dollars to annual GDP through reduced downtime during harvest.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says the reforms would give farmers greater choice over who repairs and services their machinery, while also supporting regional small businesses and competition.

Treasury is now seeking submissions on the proposed changes, with consultation open until the third of July. Further information on the submission process is available through the Treasury website.