LONGTIME contractor Ron Wilson of Ladysmith is supporting a list of protections which have been issued in a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
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The submission to the ACCC Agricultural Machinery After Sales Markets Discussion paper includes five key recommendations from GrainGrowers.
The recommendations are:
- Increase the monetary threshold that cover purchases;
- Changes to warranty provisions that reflect product value and patterns of use;
- Recognition that multiple minor failures constitute a major failure;
- Mandatory oral and written disclosure of product warranties at the time of purchase;
- An independent body to evaluate issues with agriculture machinery to drive product improvement and enhance farmer protections.
Mr Wilson said while he wasn't considering the purchase of new machinery at the moment it was important to have protections in place for those who needed to secure big-ticket rural items.
"A better warranty ... and a longer warranty would be better," he said.
Mr Wilson has spent a lifetime as an agricultural contractor in southern NSW and throughout the Riverina.
He bales crops for hay and assists during harvest.
It's a role he has enjoyed thoroughly over the years.
In the submission GrainGrowers is calling for better protections for growers who purchase new farm equipment and machinery.
GrainGrowers chairman Brett Hosking says growers need to be reassured significant purchases are backed by warranty and support.
"Growers rely on working machinery to get the crop sown and harvested and should not be held back by a new piece of machinery." Mr Hosking said.
"Delays at sowing or harvesting time is lost revenue to our growers who are already working in extremely competitive global conditions."
One of the many examples that GrainGrowers heard recently was a grower purchased a self-propelled boom spray.
Shortly after purchase, he encountered electronic issues with the machine that are still to be resolved.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
