"Amendments to the law propose
strengthening power to recall and remedy non-
compliant or unsafe vehicles. In addition to this,
further approvals will need to be obtained by
caravanmanufacturerswhosupplymorethan
four of each make and model covered under the
new proposed amendments."
He says the Victorian government is investing
more than any other state government in history
to keep people safe on our roads.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia
(CIAA) CEO Stuart Lamont isn't, however,
convinced the new law change will improve
safety.
"Will it make consumers safer on the road?
Probably not, but what it'll mean is that there are
enforcement powers if product is unsatisfactory
on the road, so they can get it off. This will create
anewpieceofdocumentwhichwillchange
thingssopowerwillbemovedbacktofederal
department to issue recalls and give them
the ability to withdraw and approve supply to
market, and allow them to issue fines.
"Weidentifythere'sasafetyissueandsome
product coming to our shores and getting on
the road isn't as good as the industry expects,
and that'll clean that up. Already there are a
large number imports, but the frustration is that
they are getting in hands of consumers with no
inspection."
He says the change will also mean for those
who import more than four RVs a year, you stillPEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING WITH THEM, YOU FIND CHAINSAWS ANDGENERATORS, AND SOME HAVE HALF A FOREST IN THERE FOR THE CAMPFIRE."RON CHAPMAN, CARAVANNING QUEENSLAND"When we were told if you’re importing a
caravan you fill out a form and tick, yes your
product is compliant, and if you tick no, the next
question is 'can it meet requirements', and if you
tick yes, it can be imported. That’s the test. I sat
there gobsmacked."
"There will now be more requirements to
verify and prove compliance. It's not a lot more
complicated, but it puts more onus on the
person importing or making the caravan."
Adrian Di Vincenzo the design manager of
Australian-built New Age caravans says the
change is important to the entire industry.
"We have rigid regulation to adhere to
and it seems a lot of imports are coming in
non-compliant, and as an Australian certified
manufacturer we have hoops to go through.
We don’t have a level playing field ... if want to
release a product why should any other product
be different?"
Celso Prado from Mars, also welcomes the
change.
"We are very happy for it, because it raises the
bar for everyone, and there’s nothing there we
don’t already comply or exceed and that’s why
we are in business for 12 years .. which is longer
than 80% of manufacturers in Australia."WEIGHING IN ON THE ISSUE
While the new law will tighten up laws around
imports, it begs the question, who is addressing
the issue specifically around road safety, thehave self declaration, but you need pre-approval,
and need to prove it's worthy to bring it in,
"and you will have to under audit convince the
government that the product is compliant".
Caravan Industry Association Victoria CEO
Rob Lucas says this change is something he,
along with Lamont, and Ron Chapman from
Caravanning Queensland, lobbied Government
about six years ago.
"There’s no doubt that imports and the way
vehicles were registered needed revamping.
The original act was written for cars, trucks
and bikes, and we found massive holes in the
registration, and around imports.New Age weigh bridge
Adrian Di Vincenzo