- The Australian government plans to expand right to repair laws to include agricultural vehicles and machinery, aiming to open repair markets and reduce costs for farmers.
- These reforms seek to improve access to repair information and services, providing farmers and small businesses with faster, more affordable repair options and reducing costly downtime.
- The changes are designed to loosen manufacturers’ exclusive control over repair data, enabling independent repairers and increasing competition in the repair sector.
The government said it was looking to extend right to repair rules to agricultural vehicles and machinery, where access to repair information is often more restricted and downtime can carry higher economic risks.
The announcement on May 22 comes on the back of a challenging global environment, including the current conflict in the Middle East, which was putting pressure on fuel prices, freight costs and supply chains.
Against this backdrop, the government argues that improving access to repair services and information can help offset some of these cost pressures.
“We know small businesses can’t afford to be out of action when machinery breaks, so we’re making it easier for small businesses, farmers and drivers to keep moving with access to fast and affordable repairs,” said Anne Aly MP, Minister for Small Business.
Increasing choices for farmers
Importantly, these changes are an attempt to loosen manufacturer control over the entire repair ecosystem.
With shared repair data, the government aims to lower barriers for independent repairers, allowing more businesses to compete with authorised dealer networks.
“Whether it’s repairing a car or a tractor, Australian drivers and farmers deserve access to choice and competitive prices… Expanding these repair laws to agricultural machinery means farmers will have better access to local repair services, less downtime and less costs,” said Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has backed this move, calling it a long‑awaited policy shift that could reduce repair delays, cut costs, and boost productivity.
“This is a step towards giving farmers more freedom to choose who services and repairs their machinery. That means less downtime, lower costs, and more control over their own businesses,” said NFF President Hamish McIntyre.
Lawmakers and stakeholders emphasised that the impact is likely to go beyond cost savings for the entire agriculture sector.
“By extending Right to Repair laws to include agricultural machinery, these changes will help reduce downtime, lower repair costs and keep farm operations moving when it matters most,” said Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The reforms are also positioned as a catalyst for innovation.
Easier access to repair data could enable the growth of third-party toolmakers, diagnostic platforms, and data service providers, creating a more dynamic and technology-driven aftermarket ecosystem.
Broader implications
Implementing these changes could eventually lead to a significant monetary increase for the sector.
“This is a win for the sector after a period of uncertainty. Modelling by the Productivity Commission shows this reform could lift agricultural production to $97 million and greater competition in the repair sector will lead to a $311 million increase to GDP,” said McIntyre.
The proposal builds on the existing Motor Vehicle Information Sharing Scheme, which, since 2022 has required manufacturers to share repair and servicing data with independent workshops.
A recent review found the scheme has broadly worked, increasing competition and helping grow the sector’s annual turnover by $2.4bn.
“We’ll continue working closely with government and industry to get these important laws implemented,” said McIntyre.
