Right-to-repair: Productivity Commission mandates farm machinery repair scheme

The Productivity Commission has handed down its final right-to-repair report, which calls for urgent changes.

Farmers say they have finally been listened to in their fight for the right to repair their own machinery after the Productivity Commission released its final Right to Repair report yesterday.
Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Ashley Fraser said it was “a huge relief to have the (right to repair) formally acknowledged”.

Farmers access to third-party repairers will be bolstered, after the Productivity Commission published its final report about right to repair.

He said farmers could wait days if not weeks for parts and repairs from authorised dealers, leading to costly delays at harvest time that were “completely unacceptable”.

The report found there were significant and unnecessary barriers to repairing agricultural machinery, and more needed to be done to create competition within the sector.

The report called on the government to introduce a repair supplies obligation for agricultural machinery that would require manufacturers to provide access to repair information and diagnostic software tools to machinery owners and independent repairers.

Mr Fraser said he would like to see the recommendations become law before next harvest.

“It’ll mean something to every single grain farmer out there. There’s no grain farmer out there that hasn’t struggled for parts,” he said.

Grain Producers Australia and Rupanyup grain grower Andrew Weidemann said farmers had been campaigning for the right to repair and quickly access parts for their machinery for a decade.

“The last thing you want, particularly at harvest time is having downtime with machinery,” he said.

“For farmers and contractors alike it’s important that manufacturers are aware of their obligations and parts are available.

“At this time of year if you have to wait a week for a part to be flown in from overseas, people’s whole livelihoods are at risk,” Mr Weidemann said.

Jason Mellings.

Carron grower and former diesel mechanic Jason Mellings said he was very happy with the service his local authorised dealer provided, but having more independent operators able to service machinery would be an overall benefit for growers.

“We haven’t got enough mechanics in the industry, so if there’s a few independents out there that are good, they can take the heat off the other guys,” he said.

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar welcomed the Commission’s recommendations.

“Farmers, as small business owners, should have the same right as anyone else to have their machinery repaired by a suitable qualified repairer, without the fear of losing their warranty, and without being locked into needlessly exorbitant repairs by the dealership network and for spare parts,” Mr Mahar said.

“Maintenance and repairs of farm machinery is not an opportunity for dealers to dip their hands into the pocket of the farmer and to bulk up their profit margins. The introduction of a right to repair will ensure farmers get a good price for any repairs through a more competitive market for after-sales services.”

The Commission surveyed agricultural machinery owners, who reported problems accessing diagnostic software tools (40 per cent), calibration-activation codes (32 per cent), spare parts (32 per cent) and repair manuals (28 per cent).

The majority said they would have used a third-party repair provider if they had access to the necessary repair supplies.

A John Deere spokesman said the company was evaluating the report’s recommendations, and was committed to supporting its customers’ ability to repair and maintain their farm equipment.

“This is a commitment we take very seriously at a global level and we are eager to work with industry to provide solutions that support our customers’ needs while ensuring we uphold our responsibility to safety and sustainability,” the spokesman said.

Earlier this year, the Tractor and Machinery Association raised concerns about the safety implications of giving third parties information that would enable them to modify agricultural equipment.

A TMA spokesman said the group was not ready to provide comment about the report’s recommendations.

The Commission stated the government should implement a right-to-repair obligation scheme for agricultural machinery by the end of 2022.