A Queensland Government decision to reject a proposal that would have had a “catastrophic” impact on the state’s automotive service and repair sector has been welcomed by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) and Queensland’s professional automotive service and repair workshops.
Under the proposal, tabled in 2023, the Queensland Electrical Safety Office put a recommendation that only licenced electricians carry out work on EVs, as part of the Electrical Safety Act review.
The AAAA strongly opposed the recommendation, working with Queensland workshops and communicating with the state government on how the proposed changes would negatively impact consumers and independent workshops.
The Queensland Government determined the recommendation would not be implemented as proposed, with the response providing more certainty given the immense confusion and concern created in the broader automotive industry, says the AAAA.
A roundtable will be formed with Commonwealth and other jurisdictions to consider EV electrical safety, the AAAA welcoming the commitment to engage with national groups in particular given the importance of this topic to the industry.
“Thankfully, common sense has prevailed, and Queensland workshops and consumers can be assured that this proposal will not go ahead,” says AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity.
“Requiring electricians to work on EVs is not practical,” he says.
“Such a regulation would lead to increased costs for businesses, increased servicing costs for consumers, longer wait times for service appointments, and as an unintended consequence some EV owners could unwisely and dangerously attempt to do servicing work on electric vehicles themselves.”
Charity says the AAAA congratulates industrial relations minister Grace Grace for her confidence in the professionalism of qualified automotive light vehicle technicians.
The AAAA continues to advocate that the automotive service and repair industry is properly trained to service and repair EVs.
“We are a responsible industry, with sound occupational health and safety practices,” says Charity.
“Many light vehicle technicians have already completed EV safety training and our research indicates that the majority of the sector will have completed this training in the next three to five years. “Around 10% of the sector already has advanced proficiency in EV repair and as EV and hybrid vehicle sales increase over the coming years the vast majority will be EV trained.”
Training for automotive technicians on how to safely work with EVs is available and being implemented by national automotive banner groups, vehicle manufacturers, dealerships, TAFE colleges and registered training organisations across the country, says Charity.
EV training of automotive technicians is also a legislative requirement of the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme Act 2021, he explains.
AAAA’s government relations and advocacy director Lesley Yates says; “There is a national framework in place: the Australian Automotive Repair and Service Authority (AASRA) provides a valuable service validating the EV certification of technicians.
“This is a national program established as a result of federal legislation.
“We were very concerned at the prospect that Queensland could potentially ignore the landmark national agreements that are already in place,” she says.
“There are real dangers posed by state governments seeking to implement state specific regulations for service and repair, especially when these changes have been proposed by bodies that have little exposure or knowledge of the automotive industry.”
As well as small independent workshops, the AAAA represents larger national banner groups, including Jax Tyres & Auto, Ultra Tune, mycar Tyre & Auto, Repco Authorised Service and many others.
Potential state specific regulations disproportionately affect the national chains because their national workforce is subject to different regulations preventing the easy movement of staff across state borders, the AAAA says.
“There are already anomalies in NSW, with regulations in that state that vary from national practice. We are very concerned about the prospect of more state-by-state unilateral decisions that impact the service and repair industry,” says Yates.
Charity says the AAAA remains committed to working alongside the Queensland Government and other key stakeholders to ensure that all Queenslanders continue to have access to a safe and skilled automotive service and repair industry.
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