Have you ever been unable to get your mobile phone or tablet repaired or the repair costs a ridiculous amount?
The truth is that manufacturers are making repairs harder by design. They control who can and cannot do repairs and they use software to slow down batteries and to reject what are perfectly compatible components.
Built-in obsolescence is adding massively to e-waste.
It’s the same for farm machinery. New technology is great but it means manufacturers have more control over software, independent repairers can’t access genuine spare parts, ‘authorised’ repairers have limits on what they’re allowed to fix and there are long waits for repairs to be done.
It can be disastrous for farmers whose operations are time-sensitive. $millions can be lost when things go wrong.
We don’t think this is fair so we’ve made two submissions to the Productivity Commission inquiry into right to repair – consumer electronics and farm machinery – calling for reform of Australian Consumer Law.
The Right to Repair movement is gaining momentum around the world and Britain and the EU are bringing in reforms to fix the problem. Australia should follow suit.
If you agree with us on this, why not join and help us drive the change that needed on Right to Reform?
top photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash
photo by Loren King on Unsplash