Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Muir for that question and for some notice of it. The shift to digital record keeping is consistent with trends we are seeing elsewhere in the economy. The problems that Senator Muir identifies are not with this electronic shift but with how consumer interests are protected.

The government recognises that the logbook, whether electronic or paper, is an important record of car ownership, maintenance and usage. The important thing is that people get access to the information and have the information. Last year the industry raised concerns with us about access to information that enables the aftermarket industry to maintain and repair vehicles. Senator Muir has also made representations to the government on this issue. The former Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, was involved in brokering a voluntary industry agreement that would enable independent repairers to access appropriate repair information.

Following representations from industry to Minister O'Dwyer's office, Treasury officials met this month with representatives from the automotive service industry. The government is engaging with this sector to ensure the Agreement on Access to Service and Repair Information for Motor Vehicles 2014 heads of agreement, which has been in place since December 2014, and its supporting codes, work so that independent repairers can get appropriate access to repair information. The issue of manufacturers moving to online logbooks rather than physical service logbooks has been raised anecdotally as part of the broader issue of difficulties currently being experienced by parts of the industry in accessing vehicle repair information.