The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) strongly supports extending Australia’s Right to Repair framework to agricultural machinery, arguing farmers deserve the freedom to choose who repairs the equipment that keeps their businesses running.
In our submission to the Commonwealth Treasury’s Right to Repair discussion paper, we call for reforms that would ensure farmers, independent repairers and farm-employed mechanics have access to the repair information, diagnostic software and replacement parts needed to service modern agricultural machinery.
VFF Farm Business, Transport and Workforce Committee Chair Daniel Meade said farmers who invest heavily in machinery should not be locked into a single repair option.
“When a tractor, harvester or any machine breaks down in the middle of harvest or sowing, every hour counts. Delays in getting repairs can cost farmers thousands of dollars a day and directly impacts food production.”
“If a farmer owns a piece of machinery, they should have the right to decide who repairs it. Independent mechanics and qualified farm-employed technicians should have access to the same repair information and diagnostic tools as authorised dealers,” Mr Meade said.
The submission urges the Australian Government to adopt a broad definition of agricultural machinery that includes tractors, harvesters, sprayers, precision agriculture technology, autonomous machinery and modern dairy equipment.
Mr Meade said improving access to repair information would deliver benefits well beyond the farm gate.
“Right to Repair is about improving productivity, reducing unnecessary downtime and strengthening regional communities. Better access to repair information will support independent rural businesses, create skilled local jobs and help keep farmers operating when timing is everything.”
“Getting this right would improve competition, lower repair costs and increase resilience across Australia’s agricultural sector, ensuring farmers can keep producing food efficiently and sustainably,” Mr Meade said.