“Vehicles and trailers, identified by VIN, which
do not appear on the RAV will not be able to be
registered by state transport authorities,” James
Field, CIAA chief technical officer, told GoRV.
“Once fully in force, the RVSA will provide
industry businesses a level playing field, create
a barrier to entry for newcomers and start-ups,
improve the safety and compliance of recreational
vehicles being manufactured, and arm federal
government regulators with greater enforcement
powers to assist in stamping out non-compliant
and, more importantly, unsafe RVs from making
it onto Australian roads.”
LEVELLING THE FIELD
The same ‘compliant upon registration’ system
that has encouraged some dodgy practices by
local builders has given unscrupulous importers
licence to ship non-compliant trailers – especially
Sunland Caravans owner Roy
Whyss views the changes as a
positive starting point.
“THE SYSTEM
HAS ENCOURAGED
DODGY PRACTICES
BY LOCAL
BUILDERS.”
camper trailers – in from overseas and flog them
to budget-conscious Australians.
In the eyes of industry, this practice has created an
uneven playing field. On one hand: plenty of local
manufacturers building vans to the Australian
Standards, setting the price accordingly, and
including a warranty.
On the other hand: trailers built on the cheap
in China, shipped to Australian shores, sold
without warranty or even lip service to Australian
Standards.
The new RVSA will address this problem, which
has long bedevilled industry and consumers,
by making importers subject to the same
requirements: importers will also have to obtain
a type approval for the model of trailer they
wish to bring to the country to sell, just as local
manufacturers will be required to do.
“The Act will provide better conditions for
industry businesses currently burdened with
competing with cheap, imported product which
in many cases does not meet the tough Australian
Standards and Design Rules designed to cater
for Australian caravanning conditions,” Mr Field
said.
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