Page 3303 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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The ACT retains the capacity to bring forward the implementation date prior to any national commencement date if undue delays are being experienced at a national level. While there are notable similarities between some provisions in the Greens’ bill and the publicly released Building Council of Australia proposals, due to time constraints in meeting COAG deadlines, key regulators and other government stakeholders were not able to view the draft before it was released. Therefore, there are policy and technical issues regarding the draft that will need to be addressed before these provisions are finalised.
In addition, the Building Code of Australia provisions are still being assessed for their suitability for the ACT climate and their cohesion with broader plumbing regulations. Provisions for existing houses will be developed in collaboration with jurisdictional plumbing regulators through both the national plumbing regulators forum and the relevant national implementation committee. I can advise the Assembly that ACTPLA is actively involved on both of these committees and will be attending a series of national meetings to be held this week with other jurisdictional representatives, regulators and training bodies to progress development of these provisions.
While there are some advantages to pursuing the introduction of legislation for water heaters independently, to form an effective regulation the ACT would need to allocate significant resources to undertake research, refine proposed legislation, adequately consult on proposals and assess regulatory impact. This would be additional to the resources that would be required to remain active at the national level to ensure consistency where possible and that national outcomes do not adversely affect the ACT.
Opting to pursue this measure independently does not negate the need for the ACT to remain involved in the national processes being undertaken. As national standards and training will continue to be developed, the ACT will be obliged to remain consistent where possible. Therefore, it would be counter-productive for the ACT to remove itself from the process through which the required actions are already being undertaken.
Therefore, the government opposes this bill and seeks the Assembly’s support instead for the practical and progressive approach I have outlined today. I recommend that the ACT continues to support the implementation of measures for regulating installation of greenhouse-intensive water heaters through the agreed Ministerial Council on Energy process.
In recognition of the environmental imperative and the government’s climate change strategy, however, I make the commitment that regardless of any national implementation date or timing for introduction into national codes or standards, the ACT will introduce appropriate legislation for new and replacement water heaters in class 1 buildings by 1 May 2010, to be effective no later than 1 July 2010. This sets a realistic time frame to address the issues I have outlined and should satisfy the need to send a clear signal of the government’s intent to industry and householders.
Once again, Madam Assistant Speaker, I can see the Greens’ intentions on this important issue, but regret their blatant disregard for the bigger picture, their failed consultation processes and their inability to engage in a national reform process.
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