Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Plumbing Industry Regulation PLUMBING INDUSTRY REGULATION The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council PLUMBING INDUSTRY REGULATION In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (22 July 2010). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises PLUMBING INDUSTRY REGULATION The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises): I am advised that: 1.	OCBA seeks to hold Industry Consultation Meetings every six months, with provision for additional meetings to be held as is necessary. In addition to Industry Consultation Meetings, OCBA continually liaises with industry stakeholders on an ad-hoc basis about regulatory matters and other relevant issues. 2.	33 matters were reported to OCBA by SA Water over the past five years. 3.	OCBA has used a range of enforcement sanctions in relation to the matters referred to it by SA Water which includes taking court action against three offenders who were prosecuted. In addition, three persons have entered into legally enforceable assurances under the Fair Trading Act 1987 with the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs that they will refrain from engaging in unlawful conduct. 19 persons were issued with written warnings and a further five persons have given written undertakings that they will not re-offend. One person provided a verbal undertaking not to re-offend. Two recent referrals are currently under investigation. 4.	The Minister for Water has been advised that: The Waterworks Act 1932 and the Waterworks Regulations 1995 do not empower the Corporation as the technical regulator for plumbing, to examine books or papers including a plumber's record of certificates of compliance. The Government has committed to repeal the Waterworks Act 1932 as part of a wide-ranging reform of water industry legislation. The key instrument of these reforms will be new water industry legislation that is currently being developed. Included in the reforms will be a comprehensive modernisation of the enforcement powers for the technical regulator for plumbing.