Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

It's wonderful that we are all in furious agreement about the virtues of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Bill 2021 and the importance of what it will offer to many thousands of small and family businesses—independent repairers—throughout Australia.

I think we all understand politics and we all understand that oppositions need to try to inject themselves into good news stories wherever possible, and we all have a fairly high tolerance for that. But suggestions that these reforms, which the government initiated in 2017, are somehow borrowed from the Labor Party are wrong. I think it's important to point that out. Members earlier made it very clear that there was a government announcement in relation to these changes before the 2019 election—changes that were agreed to shortly thereafter by the opposition. We're obviously very happy that they accepted our policy, as we had announced it some two weeks before they did. But this sort of political gamesmanship, in trying to take credit for these things, strays into problematic territory only because it doesn't accept the hard work of our excellent public servants who have put this together. I can tell you, having led this work with a range of different industry bodies and with Treasury, that suggesting that we somehow have adopted this from the Labor Party sells short the hard work that they have put into putting together this scheme. This is very complicated work. It is an extraordinarily complicated bill and, when dealing with sensitive matters of intellectual property which, quite frankly, extend beyond our shores with foreign manufacturers, the Labor Party, in trying to take credit for what has been pretty painstaking work, may just be taking this a bit too far. I'm therefore very proud that we have agreement in this chamber on what I think will be a landmark Morrison government reform that, clearly, the opposition were unable to deliver when they were in government.

In summing this up, for the benefit of the House, I'll recap. The bill establishes a mandatory scheme that will promote competition in our automotive sector by requiring motor vehicle service and repair information to be made available—importantly, for purchase at fair market price. Our scheme will be the first of its kind in Australia and, indeed, in the broader Asia-Pacific region. It has been noted by many that a genuinely competitive market for motor vehicle service and repair activities relies more and more in this day and age on all repairers having access to the information that they require to safely and effectively repair their customers' vehicles. As motor vehicle technology becomes more and more advanced, the information required to safely repair those vehicles increases, yet, sadly, around one in 10 vehicles currently taken to repair workshops is affected by a lack of access to the information that is needed. When this is the case, it inevitably results in higher costs for consumers. This is self-evidently because there's little choice as to where to take a vehicle, particularly newer models, to be repaired safely and efficiently.

This new scheme will set out a framework for access to service and repair information, including who must provide the information, who's entitled to receive it and what access conditions will apply. This government is committed to ensuring that we have a competitive automotive sector and a level playing field for all participants: independent repairers, consumers, affiliated dealers and vehicle manufacturers. We will also bring Australia's automotive repair industry into closer alignment with existing arrangements in the United States and the European Union. As was said earlier about the specific work that has gone into this uniquely Australian scheme, the scheme adviser, as outlined in the bill, will play an important role in monitoring the scheme's implementation and will provide advice across industry in relation to its operation. I want to note that once the scheme is operational I will, as a matter of urgency, be requesting the scheme adviser to consult with industry and report to me on issues surrounding the accessibility of information contained specifically within electronic logbooks. This is because it's vital to the scheme's success that repairers get the information they need and that it is affordable, accessible and provided in an appropriate time frame.

This scheme is designed to ensure consumers and independent repairers get a fair go when it comes to the servicing of motor vehicles. I want to thank all of the independent repairers throughout Australia whom I've been able to visit since the last election. In formalising and finalising the bill that's before the House today, I want to thank them in particular. I thank all the industry bodies for coming together in good faith, in putting together this scheme. I also want to thank all of the officials in the Department of the Treasury who have painstakingly worked to put together what is a uniquely Australian solution to a problem that is going to not just deliver benefits to consumers but, as is an article of faith for the Morrison government, level the playing field for small businesses—mum and dad businesses. I therefore commend this bill to the House.

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