The AADA’s push for an Automotive Industry Code has gathered pace as the Government used Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) to announce funding for the purpose of developing an Automotive Industry Code of Conduct. As part of this work the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science has prepared a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to consider how best to address new car Dealers’ concerns with their franchising relationships with car manufacturers. The AADA has already held a consultation session with the Department and will be attending an industry workshop on the RIS in the coming weeks. We will also be finalising our submission by 13 February.
We now have commitments from the Government and the Opposition as well as support from the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, the Franchising Council of Australia and most industry bodies in the Automotive sector. Furthermore, AADA is hopeful that the parliamentary inquiry into franchising will also support an Automotive code when it is released next month. While there is much work to be done, we have made significant progress over the past 12 months.