Industry News

National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms

Standards Australia, in partnership with the Australian Building Codes Board, has launched Stage 1 of an online dictionary of building and plumbing industry terms. The dictionary aims to help industry, government and consumers understand the range of terminology the industry uses across Australia.

To see the dictionary, search online for ‘National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms’.

Industrial manslaughter

If the industrial manslaughter provisions of the Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 become law, we believe they will not make workplaces safer but will put business owners at risk of criminal prosecution with a low standard of proof. The Legislative Committee’s report on the Bill, published in August, made some recommendations the Government must act upon. We are currently examining the recommendations in detail. Industrial relations and workers compensation The Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 and the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Amendment (COVID-19 Response) were introduced into Parliament without notice to the business community. If they become law, they will create fundamental and disruptive changes to WA’s industrial relations and workers compensation systems.

Security of payment

Contrary to promises made in 2019, the WA Government has released a draft bill covering security of payment in the building and construction industry that does not include mandatory trust accounts for progress payments to subcontractors.

This is an unacceptable move by the Government. We and other industry organisations have made our views known to the

relevant minister and are continuing the fight.

Apprenticeship and traineeship re-engagement incentive

The WA Government is offering $6000 to any employer who reengages an apprentice whose training contract was terminated or cancelled by another employer on or after 1 March 2020. The payment for re-engaging a trainee is $3000.

This is in addition to other employment incentives and business support schemes.

For details see the Jobs and Skills WA website.

Leak Assist $100 rebate program

Water Corporation’s Leak Assist rebate program allows eligible residential customers to claim a $100 rebate on the cost of using a licensed plumber to fix leaks. The program runs until 15 June 2021 or until the number of rebates allowed in the program has been claimed.

For more information see the ‘Leak Assist’ page on the Water Corporation website.

Water meter relocation

Water Corporation has provided updated guidance on the relocation of water meters. A key point is that a licensed plumber must relocate internal pipework before Water Corporation will schedule the relocation of the meter.

For more information see the ‘Relocate a water meter’ page on the Water Corporation website.

National Registration Framework

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is developing a National Registration Framework (NRF) for building practitioners. The purpose of the NRF is to reform the building and construction sector by removing inconsistencies in training, qualifications and licencing in different states and territories.

We collaborated with the other plumbing industry associations that are members of Master Plumbers Australia and New Zealand to submit a united national response to the first draft of the NRF.

Plumbing verification qualification

The WA Government has accepted a recommendation that only people authorised under the Plumbers Licensing Act should be able to verify that performance solutions meet the Performance Requirements of the Plumbing Code of Australia.

This is a victory for us and other organisations that have campaigned for many years for the introduction of a formal qualification for people who verify performance solutions in WA. We are now part of a Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety working group that will decide how to implement the recommendation.

Industry News

Amendment to gasfitting standard

An amendment to gasfitting standard AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 General Gas Installations requires gasfitters to account for external weather conditions before testing for negative pressure and carbon monoxide spillage.

Amendment 3 was published on 24 April 2020 and includes a new baseline conditions test, which must be performed as part of the spillage test requirements under Appendix R – Spillage Test for Flued Appliances.

All gasfitters working on gas appliances must familiarise themselves with the new, updated test procedure.

If you would like to obtain a copy of the updated standard, contact us.

Updated backflow prevention standard

AS/NZS 2845.3:2020 Water supply - Backflow prevention devices Field testing and maintenance of testable devices was published in February. It replaces the previous edition that was published in 2010.

If you would like to obtain a copy of the new standard, contact us.

New requirements for plumbing services to survey strata lot developments

The Plumbers Licensing Board has issued Industry Bulletin 125 – New requirements for plumbing services to survey strata lot developments. Developers must now provide suitable water supply and drainage services to each lot on a survey strata scheme.

Building permit exemptions for ‘manufactured homes’

WA building regulations have been amended so that a ‘manufactured home’ (e.g. a caravan) can be moved from one location to another or have an ‘attachment’ (e.g. an annexe) fitted without a building permit.

National Construction Code videos

The 2020 National Construction Code Seminars were unable to occur due to COVID-19. They are available to watch online via the ABCB website.

Staying Strong Together

I am glad The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association is out there, as it is almost impossible to be heard as an individual business owner.” Luke - ASAP Plumbing and Gas

Like millions of other people everywhere, Western Australia’s licensed plumbing contractors and their employees, subcontractors and families have spent the past few months adjusting to the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When those early reports of a mysterious overseas virus were replaced by headlines about international travel bans, emergency funding packages and business closures, we all began asking “What will happen to us?”

Our news sources struggled to keep up with rapidly unfolding events, fuelling our fears with stories that sometimes contained as much speculation as fact.

shutdown of all non-essential services. For a few days, many of our members were understandably nervous that this shutdown would include them.

Ready to fight for the industry

As the association that represents licensed plumbing contractors in Western Australia, we were ready to fight to keep the industry open.

A decision to shut us down wouldn’t just have been a disaster for our members. It would have been complete madness with far-reaching public health consequences.

Plumbing in all its aspects, which means everything related to the supply of clean drinking water and the removal of human waste, is the foundation of modern public health. This has been recognised since the plumbing industry began to emerge in the late nineteenth century. One such story was the one in March about the imminent likely

Some public servants in government departments and some of the politicians who rule them understand why plumbing is an essential service. Most members of the public do not. This is because our industry, with its strong framework of legislation and standards, works so well that they take for granted the benefits it delivers to them.

Keeping plumbing businesses open has been tough

Although the threat of a shutdown disappeared, there was always one more cause of stress after another.

One of these was the risk of exposure to the coronavirus that plumbing work often involves. This meant that sourcing personal protective equipment became a priority, something virtually impossible to achieve when worldwide demand outstripped supply.

Burdens such as worrying about how to pay the bills when work had dried up, grappling with the JobKeeper scheme, understanding COVID-19 workplace health obligations and negotiating contractual issues became the order of the day.

Later, the fact that hygiene-conscious citizens had discovered the existence of douche sprays could have been slightly amusing, but the realisation that many people were doing their own illegal and risky installations was unwelcome proof of the public’s ignorance about the role of qualified plumbers.

A new meaning for ‘business as normal’

Meanwhile, the office team was juggling balls in the air. There were many online meetings and teleconferences with other industry groups and our interstate counterparts in other plumbing associations.

Through media releases and interviews on radio and television, we’ve had success in creating public awareness about the need to keep apprentices employed, the essential service role of plumbers, the dangers of DIY douche spray installation and the risk of a post-shutdown Legionnaires disease outbreak.

There has been a stream of COVID-19-related information from government and industry sources, which we’ve endeavoured to filter and communicate to members in a way that’s relevant and useful.

That was just the beginning

Although the economy is taking its first steps towards recovery, we know it’s not going to be easy.

There are many unknowns, not the least of which is how quickly the demand for plumbing services will begin to recover. To a great extent, this will depend on government decisions at national and state levels about stimulating both new construction and the maintenance sector.

Another critical area is apprentice training, which has suffered badly. It must be a government funding priority if we are to avoid a serious skills shortage in a few years.

As well working on post-COVID-19 issues, we will continue our efforts in existing campaign areas such as national training and licensing, the level of lead in brass and industrial manslaughter legislation, to name just a few.

Master Plumbers must stay united

There is strength in numbers, in being connected to others, belonging to a recognised group and knowing someone has your back and will fight for you.

On every front, we will be working hard on your behalf to lobby government decision-makers and get the media coverage the industry needs. We will continue to strive to provide excellent value with member benefits and be a hub for information. Likewise, we need you, our members, to tell us what you need.

Nobody can predict the future, but the decisions we all make now will help to shape it. The best way to get through whatever lies ahead is for all of us to stick together and work together. Because that’s what industry associations like this are for.