Page 22 - Australaasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2022

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News • In Focus
PAINT&PANEL
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
CODE OF CONDUCT
• The use of second-hand and/or non- original equipment manufacturer parts in repairs and related safety, warranty and liability concerns when using those parts;
• A lack of transparency of information, with consumers often not being made fully aware by insurers of all the de- tails related to their repairs and/or in- surance policies;
Crash repairers and
motoring consumers have been afforded
additional protections through an Amendment to the Fair Trading Act.
• Disagreements over the methodology used by crash repairers and insurers to assess the repairs needed, and the cost of said repairs, to restore the mo- tor vehicle back to pre-accident condi- tion, and the quote negotiation pro- cess; and;
• Insurers choosing to provide cash set- tlements to consumers instead of re- pairing their vehicles.
“The Parliamentary Inquiry’s recom-
mendations formed the basis of the Amendment which will ensure consum- ers will have the ability to exercise their choice of repairer.
“This framework provides the strong- est protections in the country for con- sumers, as well as the small and medium businesses in the crash repair industry.
“Small business forms the backbone of our South Australian economy and the crash repair industry is a collection of small and family businesses who have found support in the South Aus- tralian Parliament to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.
“I would like to record the MTA’s thanks to our State Parliamentarians, the Member for Waite Sam Duluk MP, the Hon John Darley MLC, SA Labor Party, the Greens, SA Best, other Members of the Cross Bench and of course the Government.”
For more information listen to our pod- cast PAP063 where we interview Paul Unerkov. Go to: paintandpanel.com. au/podcast
WITH PENALTIES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MANDATES THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE AND REPAIR INDUSTRY CODE OF CONDUCT WITH ENFORCEABLE PENALTIES AND EMPHASIS ON CHOICE OF REPAIRER.
“I
LEFT TO RIGHT: MTA Corporate Communications and Future Growth Manager, Daniel Forbes, Member for Waite, Sam Duluk MP, BRD Chair, Dario Tonon, BRD member, Jeff Williams and MTA Repair Division Specialist, Matthew Bezzina.
N A NATION LEADING STEP,
South Australian crash re- pairers and motoring con- sumers have been afforded ad- ditional protections through an Amendment to the Fair Trading Act which mandates the Motor Vehicle In- surance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct with enforceable pen- alties,” Motor Trade Association of SA/
NT CEO Paul Unerkov said.
“These laws offer the greatest protec-
tion in Australia for consumers with choice of repair provisions in their in-
surance policies. Consumers who want to exercise their rights to decide who should repair their vehicle will now be able to call on the Small Business Com- missioner to ensure their policy provi- sions are upheld.
“The crash repair industry has been vocal in highlighting a number of is- sues, with a South Australian Parlia- mentary Inquiry finding:
• Difficulties in consumers accessing their repairer of choice and claims of insurers steering consumers toward their preferred network of repairers;