The Productivity Commission is calling for feedback on a draft report which examines the case for a right to repair products in Australia, focusing on whether consumers face any unnecessary barriers to repairing broken purchases.
Productivity Commissioner, Paul Lindwall said the Commission’s draft report, Right to Repair, outlined measures to assist consumers to get their products fixed.
“There is growing community concern that repairing everyday products is getting harder, with higher costs for consumers,” Commissioner Lindwall said.
“In general, consumer protections work well in Australia, but we are proposing some practical steps that could make it easier for consumers to get goods repaired and enforce the consumer guarantees,” he said.
Fellow Productivity Commissioner, Julie Abramson said the Draft Report found it was difficult for many independent repairers to access the spare parts, tools and information they needed to repair products and there appeared to be particular problems in markets for agricultural machinery, mobile phones and tablets.
Commissioner Abramson said although consumers already had considerable rights to have their products repaired, refunded or replaced under consumer guarantees, it could be very difficult for them to exercise those rights.
“We are proposing that consumer groups be able to lodge super complaints about the guarantees, with these being fast-tracked by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC),” Commissioner Abramson said.
“We also recommend further powers be given to regulators to help consumers resolve their complaints with manufacturers or suppliers.”
She said the Draft Report recommended the ACCC develop guidance on the life expectancy of common household products so consumers knew when they could exercise their rights.
Commissioner Abramson said the Draft Report also proposed a requirement that manufacturer warranties clearly stated that if consumers used independent repairers, they wouldn’t lose their legal rights to the consumer guarantees, even if the manufacturer ‘voided’ the warranty due to independent repair.
The Productivity Commission’s 328-page Draft Report, including information on how to have a say, can be accessed at this PS News link and the Productivity Commission’s 34-page Draft Report Overview can be found at this link.
