In light of the Federal Governments recent announcement that the Motor Vehicle Right to Repair legislation will be extended to include Agricultural machinery, The Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) has reaffirmed its support for Australian farmers’ ability to repair their own machinery and use independent repairers, while warning that calls for unrestricted machine modification risk safety, compliance, and productivity.
Gary Northover, Executive Director of the TMA, said the Association’s long-standing Statement of Principles makes clear its position: “We fully support a farmer’s right to repair their own machine and the ability to use third-party repairers. What we don’t support is the right to modify machines in ways that may compromise safety, emissions compliance, or global manufacturing standards.”
The TMA has actively sought collaborative solutions to ensure practical access to repair information and tools for farmers and independent service providers. Mr. Northover noted that the Association attempted to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Farmers’ Federation, like the agreement reached between the American Farm Bureau Federation and key US manufacturers but was unsuccessful.
“Many of our dealers report that some of their biggest customers are third-party repairers,” Mr. Northover said. “There simply aren’t enough technicians within dealer networks to service all the machines in the field. Responsible relationships between dealers and independent repairers already exist, and it’s patently inaccurate to say farm machinery can only be repaired by authorised workshops.”
Today, customers of several major TMA member brands can purchase diagnostic tools, service manuals, and software to perform routine fault finding and repairs. Access to these resources is expanding, reflecting the industry’s recognition that farmers need timely, affordable repair options to keep their machines working.
Mr. Northover also warned that agricultural machinery cannot be treated the same way as cars under Australia’s Motor Vehicle Information Sharing Scheme. “Modern tractors and harvesters are among the most advanced pieces of equipment on farms. They are highly computerised, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and built to stringent global safety and environmental standards. Simply grouping them with motor vehicles for regulation might seem convenient but doesn’t address the unique challenges farmers face when operating and maintaining these machines safely,” he said.
Recent proposals such as mandating generic parts compatibility across brands or requiring manufacturers to release 3D printing specifications are unrealistic and could undermine global supply chains and safety systems. “These ideas may sound appealing in theory but ignore the complexity of global manufacturing and the critical safety standards that keep modern machines reliable and compliant,” Mr. Northover said.
The TMA and its members remain committed to engaging with government, farmers, and industry partners to reach a balanced outcome. “Our goal is to support Australian farmers’ ability to maintain and repair their equipment without compromising safety or the technology that makes today’s machines efficient and sustainable,” Mr. Northover said.
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Media Contact:
Gary Northover
Executive Director, Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia
0467 002 322
gary@tma.asn.au