ACCC gets $8.6 million for Takata clean-up

THE Takata airbag recall is set to cost the Australian taxpayer $8.6 million over the next three years as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) oversees the clean-up.

 

According to the latest federal budget, the consumer watchdog is set to get $3.7 million of federal funding this year for departmental expenses relating to the recall of the faulty airbags that potentially can blast shrapnel into the cabin of motor vehicles, injuring or even killing occupants.

 

The government obviously does not envisage a quick resolution to the issue, announcing a further $2.5 million in funding to the ACCC in 2019-20 and another $2.36 million in 2020-21.

 

Under federal legislation, all Takata-related repairs need to be completed by the end of 2020.

 

About four million vehicles in Australia have been recalled, with about 2.7 million listed in voluntary recalls and a further 1.3 million vehicles compulsorily recalled by the government at the request of the ACCC.

 

So far, 23 deaths have been reported worldwide, with one of those in Australia.

 

More than 20 car-makers in Australia have become entangled in the Takata mess, with most spending large sums of money to effect the change to safer airbags.

 

However, all these companies report trouble in tracking down owners of some of the older cars and even convincing some owners to return their vehicles to dealerships for the free replacement of the airbags.

 

Several car-makers and motor industry bodies have pleaded for state governments to get involved so vehicle registration address records can be used for a mail-out to vehicle owners who have dropped off car company data bases.

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