There are wholesale changes coming to the way historic vehicles (of ALL types) are imported into Australia, with the regime under the Australian Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 about to be replaced by the Road Vehicle Standards Bill 2018 and associated Bills and Rules.
The bill is Part of a package of five bills to regulate the importation and provision of road vehicles, the bill replaces the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 by: enabling the minister to determine national road vehicle standards for road vehicles and road vehicle components; prohibiting the importation into Australia of road vehicles that do not comply with current national road vehicle standards, establishing a Register of Approved Vehicles, establishing a framework for the recall of road vehicles and approved road vehicle components; providing for criminal offences, civil penalties, injunctions, enforceable undertakings and infringement notices.
The greatest change that affects Classic and Vintage vehicles will be to obtaining an import permit – at present, pre 1989 vehicles can be imported as of right. Under the existing legislation the Minister MUST grant a VIA (Vehicle Import Approval). The new scheme will see the Minster having discretion to refuse the importation of any vehicle, and insist on an inspection of the vehicle anywhere in the world at the importer’s expense.
At present, historic vehicles are often taken overseas for events without using a carnet, and then reimported inti Australia by obtaining a VIA which is granted automatically. The new laws will enable to Minister to e refuse re-importation, leaving vehicles stranded overseas with no appeal process – never to be imported into Australia. There are also concerns that the importation of low volume and bespoke components for our classic and vintage vehicles may also be adversely impacted under the proposed changes.
All of this is in addition to the work of the Asbestos Police, that has all but halted the importation of historic vehicles and their parts into Australia. These Asbestos enforcers have ensured there will never be another Bugatti event in Australia.
More information is available from the Australian Government, CLICK HERE
The bill is Part of a package of five bills to regulate the importation and provision of road vehicles, the bill replaces the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 by: enabling the minister to determine national road vehicle standards for road vehicles and road vehicle components; prohibiting the importation into Australia of road vehicles that do not comply with current national road vehicle standards, establishing a Register of Approved Vehicles, establishing a framework for the recall of road vehicles and approved road vehicle components; providing for criminal offences, civil penalties, injunctions, enforceable undertakings and infringement notices.
The greatest change that affects Classic and Vintage vehicles will be to obtaining an import permit – at present, pre 1989 vehicles can be imported as of right. Under the existing legislation the Minister MUST grant a VIA (Vehicle Import Approval). The new scheme will see the Minster having discretion to refuse the importation of any vehicle, and insist on an inspection of the vehicle anywhere in the world at the importer’s expense.
At present, historic vehicles are often taken overseas for events without using a carnet, and then reimported inti Australia by obtaining a VIA which is granted automatically. The new laws will enable to Minister to e refuse re-importation, leaving vehicles stranded overseas with no appeal process – never to be imported into Australia. There are also concerns that the importation of low volume and bespoke components for our classic and vintage vehicles may also be adversely impacted under the proposed changes.
All of this is in addition to the work of the Asbestos Police, that has all but halted the importation of historic vehicles and their parts into Australia. These Asbestos enforcers have ensured there will never be another Bugatti event in Australia.
More information is available from the Australian Government, CLICK HERE