What it means for the caravan industry
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has published its Compliance and Enforcement Strategy 2026 to 2029. It explains how the Department will administer the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 and associated subordinate legislation over the next three years, and sets out the objectives, principles and priorities that will guide its compliance monitoring and enforcement activities.
The RVS legislation governs the design, manufacture, importation and first provision of road vehicles in Australia, along with certain road vehicle components. That scope reaches directly into the caravan industry.
Why this matters for the caravan industry. Many recreational vehicle manufacturers, importers and component suppliers are regulated entities under the RVS legislation. If your business holds, or is applying for, a vehicle type approval or a component type approval, this strategy describes the standards the Department will use to assess your compliance over the next three years.
The Department states that the objective of the strategy is to ensure the effective operation of the regulatory framework by delivering outcomes that:
These outcomes sit within a broader compliance model made up of four graduated response types: voluntary, assisted, directed and enforced compliance. The model is intended to guide an escalating regulatory response as risk or non-compliant behaviour increases, and it also supports the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Act 2024. See our Road Vehicle Regulatory Approach page for more information.
The Department describes its approach as intelligence-led and risk-based, meaning compliance and enforcement effort is directed toward the regulated areas and entities that pose the greatest risk. That approach is informed by the RVS legislation, industry intelligence, reports of alleged non-compliance and the evolving automotive industry, including the rapid uptake of electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems.
Nine principles sit underneath this approach:
In assessing and triaging compliance matters, the Department gives priority to:
The Department’s response is proportionate to the level of risk and harm identified, and can range from education and engagement through to strong enforcement action.
The strategy names three focus areas that will guide proactive compliance and enforcement activity over the period. Each will be delivered using the full range of tools available under the compliance model, applied proportionately to risk and behaviour.
Objective: improved approval holder capability and accountable compliance behaviours.
Relevance. Approval holders with a history of repeat findings, including those operating under concessional arrangements, should expect closer and more frequent attention.
Objective: early identification and control of compliance risks linked to emerging technologies and new market entrants.
Relevance. Businesses introducing new vehicle categories, technologies or componentry, including electric and technology-equipped models, are likely to see more active monitoring under this focus area.
Objective: approval holders better understand the importance of effective quality system documentation and reliable testing facility evidence, and take responsibility for maintaining compliant systems.
Relevance. The Department is explicit that it will not design, strengthen or operate quality systems on behalf of approval holders. That responsibility remains with the approval holder, which makes this a good moment to review your own quality system documentation and testing evidence. Instead, the Department will set clear regulatory expectations and use compliance monitoring inspections, approval assessments, information requests and approval conditions to help approval holders understand their obligations, identify gaps early and take responsibility for durable improvements to their systems, procedures and records.
To support regulated entities in their commitment to voluntary compliance, the Department will continue to publish and maintain guidance and information about compliance and enforcement under the RVSA.
The Department will continue to publish quarterly updates through The Regulatory Report, which covers the number of vehicles on the Register of Approved Vehicles, application assessment timeframes, recalls, compliance and enforcement matters, and stakeholder engagement and enquiries.
Businesses who wish to report suspected non-compliance or a vehicle safety concern can do so through the Department’s dedicated channel for reporting a vehicle safety or non-compliance issue. The Department notes that information from the public, industry and other regulators helps it identify emerging concerns and informs future compliance planning.
Where an applicant or approval holder is not satisfied with the Department’s response or action on a compliance matter, it can raise the issue with the relevant area handling the matter, or lodge a formal complaint through the Department’s website. See the complaints fact sheet. For certain decisions made under the RVS legislation, an applicant or approval holder may also have review rights through the relevant review mechanism, for example the Administrative Review Tribunal or successor arrangements as applicable. Reviewable decisions are set out in the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019.
For further questions or assistance, see the Department’s contact us page.
