Briefly, in response to your query, section 34F 2(a) of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 provides that 'the date of manufacture of a vehicle is taken to be the date of manufacture shown on the vehicle's compliance plate'.
Consequently, the vehicle you have purchased would be considered to be a 2009 model vehicle.
I pulled up the legislation.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/mvda1973211/If you look at s 34F of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 (WA) it is limited in operation to s 34A(2) (Vehicles covered by obligations to repair) and 34C(1) (Period during which dealer responsible: vehicles other than motorcycle). I don't think it has a wider operation than that, although it expresses a principle which may be applicable elsewhere.
In any event, it says the age of the vehicle for those sections is taken to be "
the date of manufacture shown on the vehicle's compliance plate" or the "
built date shown on the vehicle".
“Built date” shown on the vehicle is defined to mean the date, or the month in a particular year, that follows the expression “built” or “built date” (or a similar expression) on —
(a) a metal plate attached to the vehicle; or
(b) a metal component of the vehicle.
Compliance plate, in relation to a vehicle, is defined to mean a plate attached to the vehicle that indicates that the vehicle complies with the standards required by law for vehicles of that make, model and
year of manufacture.
All of that appears to mean:
* the legislation only applies in WA;
* the sections relating to the age of the vehicle, are limited to sections about dealers' obligations to repair;
* the age of the vehicle is taken as the date of manufacture.
I have had a long day and am really tired, so I hope I didn't muck all that up, but it appears the Office of Fair Trading was mistaken. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
