The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) is urging governments to adopt standards reforms that are suited to Australian conditions, warning against a blanket application of international vehicle regulations.
In its submission to the Treasury’s consultation on reforms to improve the use and recognition of standards in regulation, the AAAA supports greater harmonisation between states and with trusted international benchmarks, but only when those standards are locally relevant.
Chief executive Stuart Charity cited the industry’s opposition to adopting the UNECE’s Global Technical Regulation GTR 09 for frontal protection systems without modification as an example of potential risks.
“The intention was to improve safety, but it would have ignored high-speed animal strikes, rural road conditions, and the need for essential safety equipment in remote areas,” Charity said. “The minister ultimately agreed, and its adoption was stopped.”
He added that Australia’s capability in designing and manufacturing automotive components must be recognised, with vehicle modifications often being essential for compliance and safety.
AAAA director of advocacy and government relations Lesley Yates said the lack of national consistency in how standards are applied remains a challenge for the industry.
“Our industry faces a patchwork of conflicting rules that increase costs, create confusion, and slow innovation,” Yates said. “We need a national approach that works for our conditions and eliminates unjustified differences between states.”
The AAAA’s submission also calls for early and ongoing industry consultation in all standards reform processes.
The association says the Treasury review offers an opportunity to address long-standing inconsistencies in the automotive standards framework, but reforms should be grounded in local requirements and informed by industry expertise.
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