ZephynAndy

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Are you, when taking up permanent residence in Aus, importing a non-motorised caravan to Aus that you have owned and used for more than 12 months, and which will be for your continued personal use in Aus? If so, then you are able to get customs to clear your caravan free of Import Duty and GST, as it is deemed to be a personal effect. Happy Caravanning, Andy

VicRoads didn't take much convincing in my case. I simply asked for 28 days and they gave it to me. I found them to be very nice helpful people. We are probably closer in belief than I might have initially imagined, so just to clarify that I have no specific gripe against any person or entity..... Georgina's quote just happened to be posted recently and so became the example that started this discussion. My gripe is a generic one, and I know of two people who have been given even far more exorbitant quotes.... $6,000 and $10,000+ respectively. I reckon that in this skewed market where customers are captive and uncertain of the local regulations in a new country, there is simply no incentive to contain costs, and if left to the market this leads to price gouging as you call it. Business will naturally aim at maximising profit and customers will aim at getting their caravan legally registered as cheaply as possible, which aims are a tad conflicting. I find it amazing that Oz regulations include no regulatory brake to prevent extortion. By way of example, the UK's MOT system works well in that the Government regulation specifies both the tests to be done and the maximum amount that may be charged for the tests. I think this is a fair regulatory example and food for thought for Oz. Also we Poms are used to getting onto the web to get accurate and current pricing about almost everything, which practice generally hasn't started in Oz yet. That's where PIO comes in to help reduce the conflict! The experiences and opinions listed on PIO in this regard can surely only but help give some idea as to what is a fair price for the regulatory work required to make caravans compliant. The postings of others on PIO has helped me, and I am posting on PIO to help others who will follow me. If you could post what your colleague in QLD believes is a fair price to certify a gas appliance, and a brief summary of what the task entails, that would be a great starting point!

For a UVP lasting 28 days, please check the VicRoads webpage at http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Registration/PermitsModificationsAndDefects/UnregisteredVehiclePermit.htm With respect, I don't believe your posting has corrected any of my opinions. IMO real-worth is not based on regulations, but something bigger than that. I don't have any gripes with sensible Good-regulations, but detest Bad-regulations. And I detest the people who take extortionate advantage of their captive customers under the guise of "regulations". Don't you think that the $375 quote given to Georgina to certify each appliance is extortionate? And I still maintain that the extortionate charges around certifying for ADR is used primarily to protect the local vehicle industry. I have seen far more very non-roadworthy rust buckets roaming the roads of VIC in the short time I've been here, than I have ever seen in the UK, so the local regulations are not working IMO. If the local vehicle industry was not protectionist, we could all have easy access to cheap used Japanese imports like is already the case in NZ, UK, and all the non-protectionist countries on Earth. And the overall cost of vehicles in Oz would come down too. But if my livelihood was based around this compliance industry, I would naturally support the current status quo.

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