Now that we don't have a local car manufacturing industry to protect we should amend the MVSA 1989-2002 to permit the importation good low mileage economical vehicles from Japan now that we have a Japan-Aus Free Trade Agreement.
At present we have a Claytons System called SEVS-RAWS which means that we can only import orphan high powered sports cars ( 10 kgs weight/BHP) which adds $3-4K to import costs and caters only to an enthusiast market
In order to accommodate good used car import system so that working class Aussies can benefit in lieu of the negative effects of Free Trade we need: (a) That Japanese safety standards are recognised by the Australian Government ( Our ADRs have been plagiarised from the UK/EU) (b) That a reasonable wharfage-quarantine regime is put in place to reduce delays & costs ( At present its a rip-off) (c) That GST is levied on the import sales invoice amount; not on local value.
The benefits: -Affordable fuel efficient cars for the Aussie working class & small business. -a reduction in our importation bill for new cars ( these smaller used cars will replace some of the trashy new Chinese jobs) -a reduction in fuel imports due to these cars being more fuel efficient than equivalent priced older Aussie cars -A reduction in CO2 emissions -an improvement in Australia's balance of trade.
Multinational car manufacturers who pay little or no Aussie corporate tax have had a magic rune here for decades, raking-in manufacturing subsities and virtually controlling our import & regulatory regimes while providing very expensive new cars ( some might say the most expensive in the world) and hindering the average Aussie from importing a good used jap car.
We live on a globalised world and our successive Governments have recognised that in Free Trade Agreements and global trade. Its about time that the average working class used car buyer got a piece of the action by being allowed to buy a used car in Japan, import it and benefit by about $3K. We just want the Government to open up the auto market to the average Aussie rather than pandering to the commercial interests of multinationals.( In 2002 the multinational car manufacturers via their national dealer networks effectively scotched the import of used Japanese vehicles because these car behemoths said then at a Senate Inquiry the the continuation of Japanese used vehicles would cause them to close their Aussie factories.)
If you agree , just send an email to your local MP/Senator advocating so Cheers & good motoring Moorookamick
PS: Our inept Federal Office of Road Safety has not initiated a worthwhile vehicle recall; instead it waits until there is a recall in another jurisdiction, Tenaka seatbelts is a typical example of that!
