The AAAA is holding an Online forum to give regional repairers a direct voice in the future of agricultural Right to Repair laws
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) is holding a national roundtable discussion that will give independent agricultural machinery repairers the opportunity to contribute input into expanding Right to Repair laws.
The national agricultural machinery repairer’s roundtable will take place as an online conference at 6pm on Wednesday 5 August. Repairers are invited to register by emailing lyates@aaaa.com.au.
The results of the roundtable will be used to advise the Australian Government on how changes to Right to Repair laws relating to agricultural machinery should be applied in a practical form.
The roundtable will bring together a group of independent agricultural machinery repairers from across Australia for a practical online discussion. Treasury officials responsible for the current Right to Repair review will also be in attendance roundtable as observers to hear directly from independent repairers.
The Federal Government is actively considering whether the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme (MVIS) should be expanded beyond passenger vehicles to include agricultural machinery.
For the review to be informed by real-world experience, government needs to hear directly from the independent repair businesses that keep Australia’s farms operating. Independent agricultural machinery repairers provide an essential service across regional and rural Australia, yet their experience is often absent from formal policy discussions.
Direct opinions from active repairers
“Repairers are extremely busy, they’re regional and focused on keeping farmers working, not participating in Canberra policy processes,” explained Lesley Yates, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at the AAAA.
“Unless government hears directly from the businesses doing this work every day, there is a real risk that any future Right to Repair framework will be designed around assumptions rather than real-world experience,” Lesley Yates added.
Rather than formal presentations, the discussion will focus on practical examples of the barriers repairers encounter when servicing modern agricultural machinery.
Participants will discuss the machinery they service, the more importantly is the work they are prevented from undertaking because of restricted access to information, software and diagnostic functions.
The roundtable will discuss how improved access could expand repair services for local farming communities, the practical issues government should address if agricultural machinery is brought within Australia’s Right to Repair framework, and the vital role independent repairers currently play in keeping farmers and regional communities operating.
The discussion is expected to include real-world examples involving diagnostic software, scan tools, security codes, software updates, calibrations, telematics, GPS-enabled equipment, connected machinery platforms, parts access, parts pairing, dealer-only functions and the impacts these restrictions have on farmers through increased downtime, travel costs and reduced service options.
“Independent repairers already support Australia’s agricultural sector every day,” Lesley Yates from the AAAA continues.
“Where they have the information and tools they need, they keep machinery operating quickly and close to the farm. Where access is restricted, farmers can face unnecessary delays, higher costs and longer travel distances simply because independent repairers are prevented from completing work that they are fully capable of undertaking.
“The people designing these laws need to understand what is actually happening in workshops and on farms across the country. The practical experience shared through this roundtable will help ensure any future Right to Repair framework works for farmers as well as repairers,” Lesley Yates concluded.
Independent agricultural machinery repairers interested in participating in the roundtable are invited to register by emailing lyates@aaaa.com.au.
Roundtable online event details
National Agricultural Machinery Repairers Roundtable
Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Time: 6:00 pm (AEST)
Duration: 55 minutes
Format: Online teleconference
