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National Farmers' Federation

National Small Business Strategy backs agricultural right to repair

The National Farmers’ Federation has applauded the National Small Business Strategy backing right to repair “especially in agriculture and farming” as part of much needed competition policy reforms.

NFF President David Jochinke said the Strategy acknowledged what farmers had been clearly saying – right to repair could help ease cost pressures, lift productivity and improve competition.

“It is time to progress a legislative solution,” Mr Jochinke said.

“For too long, farmers have been locked in to getting certain services and repairs done only by authorised dealers and agents, which means extra costs to farm.

“Every minute counts in during harvest. A machinery breakdown shouldn’t mean harvest is delayed waiting for an authorised dealing when a local mechanic could do the job.

“We strongly believe there is a sensible solution that provides farmers with the choice to engage qualified professionals for machinery repairs without the fear of voiding warranties or waiting excessive periods to access mandated dealer networks.”

The NFF’s Right to Repair Taskforce, a collective of commodity councils and state farming organisations, has been actively championing this issue.

“We’ve exhausted other avenues for a right to repair. Discussions between the NFF Taskforce and the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia for an industry-led Memorandum of Understanding were held in good faith, but ultimately ceased as NFF members chose to seek a legislative solution to protect producer rights.

“Today’s Strategy builds on last December’s announcement from the Board of Treasurers – comprising all state and territory Treasurers – that right to repair for agricultural machinery is a key element of national competition policy reforms.

“We will continue to push the Federal Government and other stakeholders to make right to repair a reality for farmers.”