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Yes it is an interesting dilemma that the Off Road 4x4 and outdoor leisure industry are coming up against and it makes me, like many, wonder where the State and federal regulatory institutions are with the ADR's and their proper policing in the industry in general.
The ADR's are a design regulation that should be enforced...frequently inspected...changed for update and religiously policed...peoples welfare in some cases are at stake when they use products that do not comply due to "Design loop holes" or have "Fake" ADR's printed on them.
It seems on the surface to the general public that authorities are turning a blind eye and rouge importers /sellers / manufacturers are getting a "slap on the wrist" with punitive fines not worth the paper they are written on... or in some cases not getting any fines / custodial sentencing or confiscation of assets.
At most the regulatory authorities are fighting with both eyes closed and one hand tied behind their back all the while being being spun around by the politicians.
The results of the Royal banking Commision inquiry being a classic case in point...
The Off Road 4x4 and Outdoor Leisure industry in Australia as some spruikers have mentioned is worth up to $17 Billion...per year 1 7 B i l l i o n so we are not talking about a "piss ant" "maybe" hobby here...
What is galling people aplenty, is that the "authorities " are stomping into the weekend markets are shutting down stalls that sell counter-fake clothing and accessories etc...turning over shops and raiding places that sell Chop Chop and illegal cigarettes...but when it comes to the Off Road and Leisure industry..."nothing to see here"...move along...
There have been a few cases far and few in between that have been in the press...Jayco (https://www.accc.gov.au/media-releas...-against-jayco)
But Still....State Consumer affairs departments seem to go missing and consumers are forced to pay thousands to take rouge traders to court just to get their money refunded or damages paid.
We have been seeing:
... inferior 50mm tow balls and some people have them snap and cause damage to vehicles...
....D Shackles...
... Snatch straps..
... inferior canvas used on imported camper trailer..
... inferior workmanship in construction campertrailer/caravans etc
...the portable gas canister / camping stove debacle.
It took a magazine... 4x4 Unsealed to "call out" after testing at their own expense..several inferior snatch straps that were in the off road leisure industry and sold by some big names in the market. (https://mr4x4.com.au/snatch-strap-st...pdated-finally)
It was credit to those sellers who immediately withdrew those products and had them re tested and re manufactured to make them comply...eventually the government authorites got involved..
Now we are slowly witnessing the "bullshite " vehicle towing wars for dual cabs pushed by the marketing departments of vehicle manufacturers..
Where any "blind Freddy" can see all this is going to end in tears with people getting a dual cab with a GVM of 2.5 ton and pulling an object weighing in excess of GVM 3 ton and in some cases being physically 50% larger than the vehicle towing it !!!!!...this is utter total madness...
The ADR's are slowly getting left in the distance, the authorities are standing by the side lines scratching their nuts...and meanwhile the unexpected consumer entering the Offroad Leisure Industry is a rightful Bunny waiting to be hung draw and quartered!!!...
In many respects its great that there are forums like the Pajero 4WD Club...who will help to answer questions and educate those within the 4x4 Offroad and Leisure industry.
The ADR's are a design regulation that should be enforced...frequently inspected...changed for update and religiously policed...peoples welfare in some cases are at stake when they use products that do not comply due to "Design loop holes" or have "Fake" ADR's printed on them.
It seems on the surface to the general public that authorities are turning a blind eye and rouge importers /sellers / manufacturers are getting a "slap on the wrist" with punitive fines not worth the paper they are written on... or in some cases not getting any fines / custodial sentencing or confiscation of assets.
At most the regulatory authorities are fighting with both eyes closed and one hand tied behind their back all the while being being spun around by the politicians.
The results of the Royal banking Commision inquiry being a classic case in point...
The Off Road 4x4 and Outdoor Leisure industry in Australia as some spruikers have mentioned is worth up to $17 Billion...per year 1 7 B i l l i o n so we are not talking about a "piss ant" "maybe" hobby here...
What is galling people aplenty, is that the "authorities " are stomping into the weekend markets are shutting down stalls that sell counter-fake clothing and accessories etc...turning over shops and raiding places that sell Chop Chop and illegal cigarettes...but when it comes to the Off Road and Leisure industry..."nothing to see here"...move along...
There have been a few cases far and few in between that have been in the press...Jayco (https://www.accc.gov.au/media-releas...-against-jayco)
But Still....State Consumer affairs departments seem to go missing and consumers are forced to pay thousands to take rouge traders to court just to get their money refunded or damages paid.
We have been seeing:
... inferior 50mm tow balls and some people have them snap and cause damage to vehicles...
....D Shackles...
... Snatch straps..
... inferior canvas used on imported camper trailer..
... inferior workmanship in construction campertrailer/caravans etc
...the portable gas canister / camping stove debacle.
It took a magazine... 4x4 Unsealed to "call out" after testing at their own expense..several inferior snatch straps that were in the off road leisure industry and sold by some big names in the market. (https://mr4x4.com.au/snatch-strap-st...pdated-finally)
It was credit to those sellers who immediately withdrew those products and had them re tested and re manufactured to make them comply...eventually the government authorites got involved..
Now we are slowly witnessing the "bullshite " vehicle towing wars for dual cabs pushed by the marketing departments of vehicle manufacturers..
Where any "blind Freddy" can see all this is going to end in tears with people getting a dual cab with a GVM of 2.5 ton and pulling an object weighing in excess of GVM 3 ton and in some cases being physically 50% larger than the vehicle towing it !!!!!...this is utter total madness...
The ADR's are slowly getting left in the distance, the authorities are standing by the side lines scratching their nuts...and meanwhile the unexpected consumer entering the Offroad Leisure Industry is a rightful Bunny waiting to be hung draw and quartered!!!...
In many respects its great that there are forums like the Pajero 4WD Club...who will help to answer questions and educate those within the 4x4 Offroad and Leisure industry.
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