The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) says if NSW Fair Trading proceeds with its proposed regulation, no technician in NSW will be legally allowed to service or repair an electric vehicle – unless they complete a mandatory, expensive and time-consuming training course, regardless of their existing qualifications or experience.
The proposed rule requires all technicians, including those doing routine tasks like running diagnostics, to complete the AURSS00064 Battery Electric Vehicle Skill Set, a 4–5 day course that costs thousands of dollars. Without it, even basic EV servicing will be illegal.
“This is not just poor policy, it’s a recipe for a service crisis,” AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity says.
“If this goes ahead, thousands of EV trained and experienced technicians will be blocked from working on EVs overnight. That means longer wait times, higher repair costs, and frustrated EV owners with nowhere to go.”
A Smarter Way Forward
AAAA has proposed a smarter alternative: a regulatory model based on business accountability, backed by Government-issued, industry-informed Guidelines. Under this approach, the business licence holder would be responsible for ensuring each technician is appropriately qualified for the task they perform, as already required under existing Workplace Health & Safety and Australian Consumer Law.
“It’s common sense,” Charity says. “Diagnosing a software fault or updating an EV’s control module is a world away from replacing a high-voltage battery, but under the current proposal, they’re treated the same.”
The AAAA model offers a practical path forward that ensures safety, supports EV adoption, and avoids bringing the entire repair industry to a standstill. It would be underpinned by Guidelines that outline what skills are needed for which tasks, recognise various legitimate training pathways (including OEM training and internal company programs), and support flexible, evidence-based compliance.
If the Government refuses to adopt this smarter model, AAAA is calling for safeguards to avoid a catastrophic service gap, including:
- A five-year transition period to prevent technician shortages and repair delays.
- Government-funded training delivery, with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced and OEM trained technicians.
“EV drivers in NSW need to understand what’s at stake,” Charity says. “If the current proposal is implemented without change, you may not be able to get your EV serviced at all. That’s the real-world consequence of regulating without understanding the industry.”
AAAA is urging the NSW Government to use the current review period to engage with the industry and develop a modern, workable framework that promotes safety without sacrificing access to essential services.
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