Peak national caravan body, Caravan Industry Association of Australia, representing the nation's $23 billion industry and historic advocates for better industry and caravanning consumer outcomes, is urging the Federal Government to stick to the existing timetable of the Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) when it meets for its final sitting period.
The Morrison Government's plan to introduce the Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 into Federal Parliament this week has the potential to threaten Australian manufacturing jobs and the safety of thousands of road users, should it successfully get the Bill through both houses on Federal election eve, and have transitional provisions due to end on 30 June 2022 extended to a future date.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont was disappointed in having to publicly expose his genuine concerns but argues that the sustainability of a competitive caravanning industry in Australia, coupled with improved vehicle safety, is surely in everybody's interest and was in full support of the stronger framework and increased risk of penalties being applied which come with the RVSA.
Mr Lamont says the current self-declaration regime for such trailers, should this amendment pass, will be compromising genuine Australian businesses and importers who continue to do the right thing, and whom have collectively invested millions of dollars to be ready for this positive yet overarching Federal legislative change.
"At a time of increasing demand for caravans and caravanning holidays, many Australians would be shocked to learn that there is limited oversight provided under the current Federal legislation - (Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989).
"It makes no sense and defies the previous goodwill of the local industry, who have prepared themselves at real cost to comply, believing positive change was forthcoming from these long-anticipated tighter rules provided for under the RVSA.
'"Australia has a very safe caravanning industry. But for low ATM trailers (that includes caravans and campers), allowing a future array of underpriced and poor quality products to flood the market under any transitional extension period, is actually obtuse public policy." Mr Lamont said.
With a local caravanning sector employing up to 50,000 Australians, under this proposed extension, it is estimated that many thousands of inferior trailers could be sold to unsuspecting Australians in the next year alone.
The national peak caravan body has consistently voiced its disappointment over the continual delays surrounding the implementation of the RVSA, having already been handballed across five Ministerial postings dating back more than seven years.
"Our industry is clearly frustrated that the current proposed Bill is set to extend transitional provisions by potentially another twelve months. This is despite previous assurances from both sides of Government that 1 July 2022 was a hard date for implementation.
"Industry and the travelling public deserve better than what is being thrown up with this hastily put together Amendment Bill.
"The pathway to registering a new vehicle (or low ATM trailer) on an Australian road should have some rigour attached to it, and genuine businesses in the caravanning industry have proactively worked to be ready in time for 1 July 2022 to meet the proposed requirements under a type approval system.
"Those businesses, including local firms, that are too busy or believe that the new system is too hard, have no place in manufacturing, importing or retailing caravanning and camping products to the Australian market. The Government's proposed extension does nothing more than reward their apathy and ignorance.
"The clock is ticking and despite all of the distractions and deadlines of this Federal Parliamentary week, this should not stop the Government from identifying a more practical and creative solution for the caravanning and camping industry, than a simple and lazy blanket extension to legislation so they can sort further stuff out later on!
"Our industry accepts and supports there may be valid reasons as to why very specific vehicle types should be carved out and provided a small exemption to the existing transitional provisions. However this does not and should not apply to low ATM trailers.
"Caravanning products manufactured for Australian conditions are the best constructed in the world, accounting for the harsh and unique way in which Australians love to get out and use their caravans. Manufacturers and importers alike who meet this high standard should not continue to be undermined by a small number of businesses which do not meet the acceptable and required burden, and who find the gathering of appropriate paperwork to be inconvenient," Mr Lamont concluded.
In the year ending September 2021, there were 13.2 million annualised in caravanning trips taken in Australia, the majority of which were undertaken in regional Australia. It is Australia's largest domestic tourism sector. In addition, for the 2021 calendar year there were 25% more new caravanning and camping products provided to the Australian market than in any other 12 month period in history.
