Media Release 7 July 2023

Stronger Regulations to Improve Plumbing Standards in WA

The Cook Government’s move to improve plumbing standards is a crucial step towards ensuring all Western Australians benefit from safe, high-quality plumbing systems, according to the peak body for licensed plumbers.

The WA Government has amended the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 to align with the latest Plumbing Code of Australia.

This will result in:

• Expanded regulation of plumbing work to reduce risks to public health, safety and the environment – covering installations, plumbing products and a new requirement for temperature control device in water heaters from 1 May 2024.
• Consistent protections across Western Australia, including regulation of plumbing work on unmetered water supplies in regional and remote areas.
• Additional plumbing inspectors for greater monitoring and compliance.

The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA (MPGAWA) CEO Murray Thomas said the suite of plumbing reforms were warmly welcomed by licensed plumbers and would help drive higher standards across the entire building and construction industry.

"These reforms are in line with the measures The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA has sought to ensure that plumbing systems are installed and maintained to appropriate public health standards right across the state," Mr Thomas said.

"Our Association is dedicated to highlighting and seeking solutions to health and safety risks posed to Western Australians by substandard plumbing services in all parts of the state."

"We applaud Minister for Commerce Sue Ellery for her demonstrated commitment to industry reform and look forward to working with the Government to drive still higher standards across building and construction," Mr Thomas said.

The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA is an independent not-for-profit organisation representing licensed plumbing and gasfitting contractors in Western Australia.

Mr Thomas said the Association strongly urged the Cook Government to maintain its focus on implementing recommendations outlined in the national Building Confidence report, especially compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training.

"Our industry is advancing rapidly with evolving technology, especially in the clean energy space, and our members simply have to keep up with the latest developments to ensure they can meet growing demand," Mr Thomas said.

"Compulsory CPD training for the sector will lift standards broadly and enable specific cross-skilling to leverage new hi-tech opportunities, for the benefit of the entire community."

The MPGAWA offers a range of training and resources through the Master Plumbers WA Learning Resource Hub which provides an on-demand training service, including a mode dedicated to earning CPD points.