The Queensland Transport’s recently released draft policy proposal designed to merge all provisions under the Traffic Regulation 1962 into the TORUM Act regarding vehicle repair registers did not reflect the views expressed by industry at the initial stakeholder meeting held in September 2006.

The industry stakeholder group, which comprised representatives from CVIAQ, Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IAME), Motor Trades Association of Qld (MTAQ) and the Royal Automobile Club of Qld (RACQ) met with Queensland Transport (QT) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to discuss compliance issues for vehicle repairers keeping written repair registers.

The industry stakeholder group held similar positions on what defined a “repair” in the proposal and what documents/records could be deemed to make up a register.

The Queensland Police Service is influencing the policy amendments in an effort to have vehicle repairers assist them in controlling the vehicle rebirthing and stolen parts rackets. As a consequence the draft policy proposed that all repairs including mechanical servicing and repairs, as well as smash repair and painting should be recorded.

The main issues of concern to industry are:
 The keeping of all records for every repair or service being too onerous on vehicle repairers
  Doubt in the proposal on what constituted a repair register
 Legal requirements forbidding repairers to ask for identification from the owner of the vehicle or from the person delivering the vehicle for repair wouldn’t allow the repairer to fully comply with the proposed legislation

CVIAQ is in the process of drafting a response to Queensland Transport restating industry’s position that a repair is any operation that changes the vehicle primary identifiers ie. colour, engine number or registration number or is the result of a collision between such vehicle and any other vehicle or any person, or any train or other property.