Earlier this week, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a report backing Right to Repair measures for agricultural equipment.
The report finds that the restricted access to software tools, technical information, and service manuals and parts held by manufacturers is limiting competition in repair markets. It also finds that warranties can limit competition by discouraging the use of independent repairers.
It makes a number of recommendations, suggesting that Right to Repair legislation should include requirements for manufacturers to:
grant access to diagnostic software tools and parts to independent repairers on commercially reasonable terms
have a sufficient supply of parts readily available in Australia for a defined period from the date of the sale agreement
provide purchasers with information about how long a certain software system will be supported.
Mend It, Australia made a brief submission to this study back in May 2020 [a lockdown task for us]. It was welcome news this week that the findings from the ACCC have finally been published. No, we are not farmers however we wanted to support the farmers!
What is promising for us all, not just Aussies, is the bigger picture and connections that this report made between the motor vehicle sharing of parts and information and the current Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into an Australian Right to Repair across all products.
Are there any more reports to share? Please head to our Facebook page titled Right to Repair Australia where Mend It posts articles that it comes across related #AURightToRepair and #right to repair internationally. Feel free to on-share these articles here or elsewhere. A like and follow of our R2R page will help raise awareness that right to repair is trending in 2021!
Also, follow Mend It, Australia on Twitter @MendItAussie for articles related to this topic. Twitter is where Mend It advocates and campaigns for #AURightToRepair and right to repair globally and reuse and repair generally.