In 2018 the Aus Government changed the MVSA 1989 which prohibited the importation of uses motor vehicles to Aus that had, by make/model, been already imported new under the FORS full volume compliance regulations unless the vehicle was manufactured before 31st Dec 1998.
The same Act permits enthusiast cars that have not been imported in full volume to Australia to be imported used under its SEVS/RAWS program which is limiting and expensive.
In 2018 this was changed to align Aus used car import restrictions with those of the USA & Canada, hence our 25 year old vehicle import rule.
In essence the 25 year old rule says that an Aussie can import a 25 year old + vehicle to Aus up to 3500 kg GVM without putting it through the expensive/onerous RAWS workshop program.
But the new car Multinationals woke and insisted that all used car imports should have to undergo asbestos testing with these multinationals knowing full well (particuluarly the Jap ones ) that asbestos was used in their cars to 2005 globally.
So , hey presto, we have a 25 year old used car import regime purported to benefit working class Aussies but has been economically snookered by the Multinationals in conjunction with Border Force due to the added expense of proving that a used 25 year old car is asbestos free.
Game, set & match to the multinational Auto Manufacturers who dont manufacture here and bugger the battling working class who wants to benefit from our Aus/Japan FTA.
