Motor Trader Dec 18 / Jan 19

“THE POLICY ISSUE THAT
IS PREOCCUPYING THE
MIND NOW, AND WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT MATTER IN THE
COMING YEAR, RELATES TO
AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW
WITH THE FOCUS ON ‘LEMON
LAWS’ AND ‘WARRANTIES.”
Law (ACL) made the provisions redundant
and continue to advise members of their
obligations in relation to the ACL on sales
of motor vehicles.
Following up on our submission to the
Queensland Parliamentary Committee
on Transport and Public Work’s (T&PW)
inquiry into transport technology, Group
Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Dale
attended the Hearings to give evidence.
Brett elaborated on the content of our
submission on the trends and changes
in fuel type usage and the increasing
electrification of vehicles in coming years.
The T&PW Committee was interested in
Brett’s references to the MTAiQ Innovation
Hub, expressing interest in visiting. This
will occur in the near future.
Upcoming in mid-December
is a submission to the National
Transport Commission’s
Motor Accident Injury
Insurance and Automated
Vehicles Discussion Paper.
It seeks views that include
the identification of barriers
to accessing compensation
under current Motor Accident
Injury Insurance schemes for
personal injuries caused by an
Automated Driving Systems. It
is on the website for members
to peruse.
The policy agenda for next
year, setting aside those that will be the
subjected to the Federal election process,
will centre on the Australian Consumer
Law. Ministers for Consumer Affairs at
their last meeting: ‘Agreed to maintain
the current framework in the Australian
Consumer Law for non-major failures,
including failures within a short period
of time after purchase and to undertake
further work to ensure consumers and
retailers are supported when a good fails.’
In relation to this point, Queensland
and South Australian Consumer Affairs
Ministers ‘did not support any delay in
the provision of enhanced protections for
consumers who had purchased ‘lemon’
motor vehicles or caravans.’
Consumer Affairs Australia New
Zealand (CAANZ) officials were directed
to undertake work on options to failures
within a short time after purchase. This
includes whether tailored approaches are
needed for high value goods including
motor vehicles and caravans. Officers are
to develop options and these involve:
• providing consumers with a 60-day
refund or replacement right if a motor
vehicle or caravan is immobile or not
December 2018/January 2019 Motor Trader | 9