Ian Rogers
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has joined global Right to Repair leaders, policymakers, industry representatives and academics at the 2025 Australian Repair Summit, calling for urgent legislative action to give farmers fair access to machinery repair options.
NFF President David Jochinke said the summit marked an important step towards ensuring farmers have genuine repair choices for their agricultural equipment.
“For too long, farmers have been locked into getting certain services and repairs done only by authorised dealers and agents, adding unnecessary costs to farm businesses,” Mr Jochinke said.
“The NFF and its members believe there’s a sensible solution that provides farmers with the choice to use qualified professionals for machinery repairs, without fear of voiding warranties or facing long delays. It’s time to progress a legislative solution.”
The NFF welcomed the Federal Government’s ongoing work on the issue, following the Board of Treasurers’ 2024 announcement that Right to Repair for agricultural machinery would form a key part of national competition policy reforms.
The Productivity Commission has modelled the proposed reforms, finding that legislating a Right to Repair could add hundreds of millions of dollars to Australia’s GDP. It aligns with recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and international precedents in Canada and the U.S. state of Colorado.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the issue becomes particularly urgent during harvest season.
“As headers move into the paddock, we’re reminded yet again why the Right to Repair is really needed,” Mr Martin said. “Machinery breakdowns shouldn’t mean harvest is delayed while farmers wait for an authorised dealer when a local mechanic could do the job.”
He added that legislative reform would bring agricultural machinery in line with the automotive industry, which gained Right to Repair protections in 2021.
GrainGrowers Advocacy and Rural Affairs Manager Sean Cole echoed those concerns.
“When agricultural machinery breaks down, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a significant financial loss for growers,” he said. “Restrictive repair rules limit growers’ choices, delaying repairs and hurting productivity. Farmers should be free to repair their machinery with the service provider that best suits their needs.”
Victorian Farmers’ Federation (VFF) President Brett Hosking said independent repair access was essential for maintaining farm efficiency.
“Agricultural machinery is a vital component of modern production and farm productivity,” Mr Hosking said. “To fully capitalise on these gains, it’s vital that farmers can repair machinery with an independent qualified repairer.”
