RV‘ COWBOYS’ ON NOTICE ISSUE 28
Game-changer! That was the headline of issue 28, which detailed sweeping changes to the federal regulatory framework concerning the manufacturing and importation of RVs.
In 2019, the old Motor Vehicle Standards Act( MVSA) 1989, which also governed RV manufacturing and importation, was set to be replaced by the Road Vehicle Standards Act( RVSA).
For decades, loopholes within the MVSA had been exploited by unscrupulous operators out to make a quick buck, fostering a culture of non-compliance among many operators. The result: damage to the reputation of the industry over a very long period of time.
The Road Vehicle Standards Act, which among other things did away with the‘ self-certification’ regime in which manufacturers could self-declare their vans to be compliant, was viewed by the industry as a crucial step in weeding out the‘ cowboys’ and putting the sword to dodgy operators once and for all.
But as soon as it was announced, implementation of the RVSA was delayed, with Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont saying the delay“ put lives at risk”. The RVSA was finally implemented in July 2021.
+ GAMECHANGER!
26 \