Peak farming bodies have applauded the Federal Government’s plans to limit repair monopolies as part of a $900 million red tape-cutting productivity reform package.
GrainGrowers, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia welcomed the plans to improve consumers’ right-to-repair and emphasised the need for such rights to extend to all large farm machinery.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers made the announcement in his address to the Australian Business Economists forum on November 13.
“I expect we’ll start by fast-tracking the adoption of trusted international product safety standards and developing a general right-to-repair,” Mr Chalmers said.
Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia executive director Gary Northover said the association’s members across the agricultural machinery supply chain supported Australian farmers wanting to improve competition and productivity by having high-quality and safe agricultural machinery with less downtime .
“The TMA has already been working hard to advance collective industry efforts to join our global counterparts in providing right-to-repair for farmers,” Mr Northover said.
“(Some) members are already servicing the right-to-repair needs of farmers.”
GrainGrowers chief executive officer Shona Gawel said broken-down machinery was “more than an inconvenience”.
“It’s (also) a significant financial loss for growers,” Ms Gawel said.
“Currently, restrictive repair rules limit growers’ choices, making them feel less like owners of their machinery and more like renters.
“This can delay critical repairs, impacting productivity and profitability.”
GrainGrowers has been working with the (NFF) on a select right-to-repair taskforce.
NFF chief executive officer Tony Mahar said a scenario where manufacturers and farmers could work constructively on a right-to-repair framework for farm machinery was something he was committed to.
He said the NFF also wanted a commitment for farm machinery to be included.
“What we need is greater flexibility for farmers to repair their equipment, like what other countries have achieved for their farm sector,” Mr Mahar said.
“We’ve been pursuing the right-to-repair to give farmers greater flexibility to use a suitably qualified repairer of their choice without fear of voiding warranties and travelling long distances — or waiting excessive periods — to access supplier repairers.
“We haven't been able to land any such arrangements so far.
“When machinery is out of action during harvest, it costs time and money.”
Mr Mahar said the right-to-repair would align with the recommendations from the ACCC, Productivity Commission and academics and would also bring Australia in line with Canada and Colorado in the United States, where right-to-repair is law.
“This is a practical and sensible solution that will support farmers, boost the farm sector’s productivity and level out the playing field with our international competitors.”
Ms Gawel said GrainGrowers would continue to advocate on the issue.
“With the accessibility and cost of parts and labour in the agricultural machinery space seeing little improvement in recent years, it is essential that the sector keeps pushing this agenda forward,” she said.