| THE FRONT BOOT
CARAVAN INDUSTRY HITS BACK
CEO SLAMS MEDIA SUGGESTIONS THAT INDUSTRY IS UNREGULATED.
Recent media commentary
claiming the Australian
caravanning industry has little
or no regulation demonstrates
ignorance and a lack of
understanding surrounding
how the industry is governed,
claims Caravan Industry
Association of Australia CEO
Stuart Lamont.
The Australian caravanning
industry is subject to more than
100 Australian Design Rules,
Australian Standards and
regulations, he said. According
to Mr Lamont, Australia is
internationally regarded
as having the toughest
construction standards
in the caravan industry.
“The Australian industry
is overseen by a number of
different state and federal
government departments and
authorities with regulatory
enforcement based around risk
profiles, reported incidences
and risk to consumer safety,”
Mr Lamont told GoRV.
“In addition to compliance,
42
gorv.com.au
consumers have added rights
and protections surrounding
unfair contract terms
and around warranty and
consumer guarantees through
the Australian Consumer Law.
“To suggest the industry
has little or no regulation or
is self-regulated is rubbish.
The industry is under constant
review by authorities, and
while we can argue that
some of the regulation
is unnecessary and adds
additional burden to industry
and cost to consumers for
no benefit to the travelling
public, the law is the law and
there is an expectation that
businesses abide within
the framework
provided by the
government.”
Mr Lamont
conceded that the
industry and the
system by which it
is governed is “by
no means perfect”.
“However, with over
615,000 (recreational)
vehicles registered in
Australia, it would be
impossible to suggest that
some problems don’t occur,
and in these situations we
urge industry businesses
to make sure they understand
and comply with their
legal obligations,” he said.
In recent weeks, the federal
government announced
it was seeking to pass
tougher enforcement
measures concerning
trailers (including caravans
and other RV products).
“These changes being
contemplated will provide
tougher and swifter
penalties for
businesses doing
the wrong thing,”
Mr Lamont said.
CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont
address delegates at this year’s
industry national conference.