Plumbing Connection Autumn 2016

12 / 116

12 PLUMBING CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016
INDUSTRY NEWS
WELS MEETS EBAY
The Australian Government has started the largest ever online
compliance operation of its kind, teaming up with eBay to clean up
the murky world of water efficiency labelling of products sold online.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator
Anne Ruston, said the joint endeavour with eBay would deliver
significant benefits to Australian consumers.
“By 2021 it is estimated that using water efficient products will
help to reduce domestic water use by more than 100,000 megalitres
each year, and save Australians more than one billion dollars through
reduced water and energy bills,” Minister Ruston said.
“Australia’s water efficiency labelling scheme, or WELS, delivers
water efficiency information to consumers so they can make
informed choices to reduce water usage and bills when purchasing
domestic products that use water.
“Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, so it’s
important for us all to strive to find ways to bring our consumption
down.
“Less than one per cent of the more than 30,000 relevant listings
on eBay comply with our water efficiency labelling requirements. This
represents a massive amount of water and money needlessly going
down the drain for consumers who may think they’re using efficient
and environmentally friendly products.
“While we’ve managed to make sure the vast majority of
conventional retailers do the right thing, online sellers, particularly
those overseas selling into the Australian market, have a shockingly
low level of compliance with our labelling requirements.
“People deserve to make purchasing decisions at face value based
on information presented on the label—which is why the Department
of Agriculture and Water Resources is working with eBay to raise
compliance.
Minister Ruston said WELS and water efficient products had
already delivered massive water savings in Australia, complementing
the other work being done to secure Australia’s water future.
“The water savings delivered from more efficient products will by
2021 equate to over 800,000 megalitres (around 1.6 million Olympic
swimming pools); and reduce total greenhouse gas output by
400,000 tonnes each year—equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off the
road each year,” Minister Ruston said.
“It also frees up water resources for further agricultural and
environmental benefits—which underpins our way of life through the
food we eat, the clothes we wear and the natural environment we enjoy.
“That is why we are investing $2.5 million dollars every day in
the future of agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin through
infrastructure upgrades. It is the largest investment in water
infrastructure in Australian history.
“Through these investments in water infrastructure and reduced
domestic consumption we’re working to secure our water future, so
that every Australian reaps the benefits of this precious resource.”
For more information on Australia’s water efficiency labelling scheme
and the benefits it delivers to Australians, visit:
STANDARDS AUSTRALIA REVIEWING
PLUMBING STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
PROCESSES
Following the transfer of responsibility for
plumbing regulatory code development
to the Australian Building Codes Board in
2011, Standards Australia has undertaken a
substantial amount of work and achieved solid
results in a number of areas.
Through the same period, the Australian
Building Codes Board has undertaken a
review of the Watermark Certification and
Management Scheme in relation to its
regulatory function but also with respect to its
operation.
In the most recent round of Standards
Australia project prioritisation, demand
was strong for work to be undertaken in the
plumbing sector.
Concurrently, Standards Australia has been
in a dialogue with industry stakeholders as to
the effectiveness and efficiency of the current
system as it relates to:
∫ Strategy and leadership within the sector;
∫ The prioritisation of industry and
government objectives;
∫ The efficiency of the current technical
committee arrangements;
∫ Coordination of activities across the range
of organisations who play a role in plumbing
technical standards writing and regulation;
∫ Development of new and innovative
solutions for products and large scale
industrial and commercial application.
In order to ensure that the development
work undertaken efficiently and effectively
leads to outcomes, Standards Australia
will be undertaking a review of its plumbing
standards development program prior to the
commencement of any new development
work.
Standards Australia has released a survey
seeking input from stakeholders on:
∫ What’s working
∫ What’s not working
∫ How can we improve
The review is to be completed by February
2016. In the meantime, development work on
existing projects will continue.