The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the review of the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct. As the national peak body representing state and territory motor trades associations and automotive chambers of commerce, MTAA advocates on behalf of thousands of automotive businesses, including body repairers, who are directly impacted by the Code.
This submission draws upon extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, including direct input from repairers, assessors, and member associations across all jurisdictions. It also incorporates independent legal analysis and recommendations provided by King’s Counsel, the Hon Michael Whitten.
MTAA acknowledges the value of the MVIRI Code as a framework for guiding the relationship between insurers and repairers. However, to remain effective and relevant, the Code must evolve in response to the changing dynamics of the automotive and insurance sectors, advances in repair technologies, and rising expectations around transparency, governance, and fairness.
This submission outlines MTAA’s analysis of the draft Code, highlights areas where amendments are required, and provides detailed recommendations to address structural imbalances identified through the industry consultation process. These recommendations will be presented to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as part of the broader negotiation process to finalise a revised Code.
MTAA believes the current draft Code, in its present form, is not fit for purpose. Rather than addressing the issues that have long undermined fairness in the industry, the draft risks entrenching insurer dominance, marginalising the professional judgement of repairers, and failing to deliver the transparency, enforceability, and governance standards expected of a modern co-regulatory framework.
Key provisions either lack clarity or reinforce imbalances, while critical elements such as payment fairness, dispute resolution, and protections against insurer retaliation are inadequately addressed. Without substantive reform, the draft Code will fall short of delivering the balanced, forward-looking framework that industry and consumers require.
MTAA’s objective is to ensure the final Code is fair, pragmatic, and delivers improvements for all parties. It is anticipated that negotiations with the ICA will conclude by the end of 2025, with implementation of the updated Code to follow in early 2026.
To read the submission in full click here
