The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has commended Master Electricians Australia (MEA) for hosting an important industry forum with the support of the Electrical Trades Union of Australia (ETU), and several leading national construction industry organisations to discuss serious concerns potentially affecting anyone reliant upon access to Australian Standards.

Every day, millions of Australians are kept safe across multiple industry sectors, consumer products and transport systems as a result of the work done by Standards Australia.

On the 100th anniversary of Standards Australia, 12 October 2022, the industry convened not in celebration, but to jointly request that Standards Australia not proceed with planned increases to commercial arrangements for access to their legislated standards without further consultation with the industry.

Standards Australia have advised members of the electrical industry that changes will be made to future Licence Agreements, arguing current agreements are now considered well below the value of the content and a new structure is intended to be introduced to ensure Standards Australia’s commercial viability.

Although some industry agreements are due to expire over the coming months, no set arrangements have yet been formally provided by Standards Australia.

Despite this, it is understood the cost to access these critical standards may be at a level the already struggling sector will not be in a position to afford.

“The construction industry has already been among the hardest hit by current economic conditions including skilled labour shortages, exorbitant material price rises, delayed payments and construction company collapses,” NECA chief executive Oliver Judd says.

“Small businesses simply cannot afford to absorb any additional expense required to carry out their undertakings.

“This will have significant impacts not only economically but may lead to lower quality and non-conforming works, with an increased risk to health and safety should latest standards not be easily and affordably accessible.”

Since the establishment of Standards Australia in 1922, NECA’s participation and contribution has been vital to the organisation’s development. NECA’s employees, as well as many other industry representatives, volunteer their time and intellectual property to develop Standards Australia content, ensuring the electrical sector operates at the highest levels of safety to protect both the industry and the community.

The development of future standards depends on this voluntary industry expertise and participation. NECA adds that Standards Australia holds a government-provided monopoly over these industry-developed standards, many of which are legislated nationally and apply to a multitude of sectors.

Forum, industry representatives agreed that while Standards Australia needs to have a stable and reliable revenue stream, as a not-for-profit organisation they must also ensure access to material remains fair and equitable to all who depend on it.

Representatives of the forum are calling on Standards Australia to engage in urgent dialogue with industry and Federal Government to discuss the proposed commercial models, the ongoing viability of Standards Australia, and the continuing support and confidence of the industry.