Plan To Ease Industry PainAbandoned Vehicles

Businesses stuck with yards and carparks full of abandoned vehicles may be able to dispose of them more easily with the State Government flagging a review.

In South Australia, current processes to legally dispose of a vehicle are a red tape nightmare, often leading to businesses throwing their hands up in defeat.

From outdated notification methods such as advertising in a newspaper and writing to the Commissioner of Police through to restrictive disposal methods such as public auction, the State Government has undertaken a public review of the Unclaimed Goods Act.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said “no one wants to be stuck holding onto or storing things for extended periods that they don’t want and that don’t belong to them.”

“We’re looking at reducing the amount of time people need to hold onto unclaimed goods as well as simplifying the steps involved in disposing of or selling unclaimed goods.”

The discussion paper on the State Government’s YourSay website outlined room for improvement across waiting periods, sale and disposal processes, scales of value and record keeping.

For Motor Trade Association SA/NT (MTA) CEO Darrell Jacobs, the message from the industry members was clear: “Automotive service and repair businesses are being used as a dumping ground for unwanted cars.”

“Our members were telling us that after years of unanswered calls, letters and emails to a previous owner, they were left with red tape nightmares and disposal costs well in excess of the vehicle’s value,” he said

Submissions have now closed and while the MTA is awaiting the introduction of legislation into parliament, it is quietly confident the changes will be welcomed by industry.

MTA General Manager and Workplace Relations Manager, Ronan O’Brien said, “My team field a number of Unclaimed Goods Act enquiries every week.”

“The fact the discussion paper reflected most of the MTA’s asks makes me positive this industry problem is being taken seriously.”