Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Minister for Small Business, the Hon Anne Aly MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, the Hon Andrew Leigh MP
The Albanese Government is seeking feedback on reforms to strengthen competition in repair markets and expand choice for drivers and farmers.
We know some Australians are doing it tough, which is why we are expanding consumer choice to help put downward pressure on the cost of maintaining vehicles and machinery.
Global uncertainty, including the current conflict in the Middle East, is putting pressure on fuel prices, freight costs and supply chains.
For farmers, keeping their machinery running quickly and affordably has never been more important.
Today, the Government has released a discussion paper outlining proposals to extend Australia's Right to Repair framework to agricultural machinery, alongside targeted improvements to the Motor Vehicle Information Sharing Scheme, which has been operating since 2022.
The Scheme requires vehicle manufacturers to provide independent repairers with access to service and repair information at a price no higher than fair market value.
The Review of the Scheme found that the existing scheme for motor vehicles had been broadly successful, supporting growth in independent repair workshops, greater consumer choice and a $2.4 billion expansion in the sector's annual turnover.
Expanding Right to Repair to agriculture recognises the practical realities farmers face. Faster access to repair information can reduce costly downtime during planting and harvest, support local repair businesses, and put competitive pressure on prices, helping farm businesses manage costs when external shocks are hitting hard.
The Productivity Commission estimates that extending Right to Repair to agriculture could lift annual GDP by $97 million through increased grain outputs alone, simply by reducing downtime during harvest.
Treasury is seeking stakeholder and industry feedback on the proposed expansion to agricultural machinery and general improvements to the existing scheme.
The discussion paper seeks views on:
- the design of an expanded scheme to cover agricultural machinery, including the types of machinery to be supported by the scheme
- giving repairers access to information stored in electronic logbooks, ensuring they have the information needed to diagnose and service vehicles efficiently
- providing data aggregators and tool manufacturers access to essential repair information, supporting innovation and competition in the sector, and
- enhancing access to higher risk repair information while maintaining strong safety and security safeguards.
The consultation period is open until Friday 3 July 2026.
