Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association has welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to make mandatory Australian Standards referenced in the National Construction Code freely accessible.
Master Plumbers CEO Ashleigh Dalmau said the announcement was an important recognition of a long-standing industry concern: that businesses should not have to pay to access the rules they are legally required to follow.
“Plumbers work in one of the most highly regulated and technically complex parts of the construction industry,” Ms Dalmau said.
“When a Standard is referenced in the NCC, it becomes part of the practical compliance framework. If government expects practitioners to comply with those requirements, then access to them should not sit behind a paywall.”
Master Plumbers has consistently advocated for free access to mandated Standards, particularly for small and medium businesses already managing rising costs, workforce pressures and significant regulatory change.
“For many plumbing businesses, the cost of accessing Standards is not theoretical. It is another direct cost of doing business in an environment where cash flow is already under pressure,” Ms Dalmau said.
“Free access will support better compliance, better consistency and better consumer outcomes. It will also assist apprentices, registered practitioners, designers, inspectors and small businesses to work from the same technical base.”
Master Plumbers also welcomed the Commonwealth’s focus on simplifying the NCC and reducing unnecessary duplication across jurisdictions.
“The NCC is central to safety, public health, sustainability and quality in the built environment. It needs to be technically robust, but it also needs to be usable,” Ms Dalmau said.
“Plumbing is public health infrastructure. The rules that govern our work must be clear, accessible and nationally coherent.”
Ms Dalmau said implementation would be critical.
“The principle is right. The next step is making sure industry can access the right Standards, at the right time, in a format that supports practical use on site and in business,” she said.
“Reform needs to reduce complexity, not shift it elsewhere. Industry will continue to work constructively with government to ensure these changes are implemented in a way that supports compliance, productivity and safe outcomes for the community.”
ENDS
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