Consultation on proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct has formally concluded, with broad engagement reported from across Australia’s insurance and automotive repair sectors.
The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), which coordinated the consultation process, acknowledged input from a range of participants, including independent repairers, insurance assessors, industry groups, and affiliated organisations such as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).
MTAA has submitted a detailed response following the consultation, highlighting key concerns with the current draft.
The submission includes proposed amendments intended to correct structural issues identified through stakeholder engagement.
These recommendations will be shared with the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as both groups prepare for formal negotiations on a revised version of the Code.
According to the MTAA, the current draft does not sufficiently address long-standing concerns related to transparency, accountability, and balance in insurer-repairer relations.
“MTAA believes the current draft code is not fit for purpose. Rather than addressing long-standing concerns around fairness and transparency, the draft risks entrenching insurer dominance and undermining professional repairer judgement,” it said in a statement.
The MTAA and its affiliates are now analysing the feedback received, with plans to work closely with the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA) in the lead-up to negotiations.
The finalised code is anticipated to be agreed upon by the end of 2025, with implementation planned for early 2026.
The reform process follows an independent review commissioned in 2023, led by Dr. Michael Schaper, which called for greater transparency, improved administrative processes, and stronger governance under the existing voluntary code.
Based on the review’s findings, the Code Administration Committee (CAC) has released draft revisions addressing disciplinary mechanisms, repair assessment protocols, preferred methods of repair, and dispute resolution procedures.
One key proposal includes formal incorporation of the CAC as a legal entity to support greater oversight and transparency.
The push to revise the code comes as the ICA highlights rising pressures on motor insurance pricing.
According to its latest report, comprehensive premiums have increased by 42% since 2019, driven by higher costs for parts, labour, and repairs.
The ICA has proposed several policy actions to help curb costs, including improved access to vehicle repair data under the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme, harmonisation of towing and storage charges, and reforms to support skilled migration to address workforce gaps.
