Here's my question - void what claim? not the claim for the damage to the actual car, right (I mean, the car seat has nothing to do with the car)? So, would it void the claim for the replacement car seat (if so, so what if your child is unharmed/less harmed than he/she would have been in a forward facing)? This is what I don't get - other than a possible fine from a very observant police officer - what could happen? OR, worse case scenario - if your child was hurt, would it mean that you couldn't claim on your health insurance/medicare - now that's a serious issue. Note, I am assuming that the seat being used is just as safe if not safer than an Aussie certified one...and I agree, plenty of research needs to be done but there are some really good options out there...and there are Britax seats in the US and UK (Safe N Sounds maker) that rear face for longer, have excellent safety ratings, and cost hundreds less than what I would say are the equivalent Aussie models (and I'm talking about the top of the line models).