Plumbing Industry

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Business Services and Consumers about the plumbing industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: The Plumbing Industry Association has been receiving multiple complaints each week relating to undesirable actions by a handful of non-member plumbing companies. Reported in the PIA magazine for September-October 2014, the Plumbing Industry Association met with Consumer and Business Services in February this year and demanded that one of these companies be deregistered from undertaking plumbing work in South Australia.

Again, in June, PIA met with CBS raising their frustration about the actions of this company, the damage they are causing to the industry and the outrageous fees being charged, particularly to vulnerable consumers in the community. For example, in some instances, after plumbing work has been done gas leaks have been detected on properties, which not only pose a serious risk to a single household but also affect neighbouring properties. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister explain why Consumer and Business Services took four months after the initial complaint being lodged by the Plumbing Industry Association to undertake an investigation of the reported company?

2. Will the minister meet with the Plumbing Industry Association to discuss proposed strategies to clean up the plumbing industry?

3. How will the minister restore consumer confidence in plumbers and ensure protection for members of the community?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her important questions. I saw, I think it was, a newspaper article highlighting poor workmanship, particularly relating to plumbing, and I think the honourable member might be referring to that.

The Hon. J.S. Lee: It was reported in the PIA magazine, September-October issue.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: So it was not for building; it was just plumbing. I thank the honourable member for the questions around plumbing. We have an inspectorship, clear licensing regulation and quality control arrangements to ensure that the work of the trade industries meets particular standards and requirements, particularly safety standards. I was just confirming that the commissioner had, in fact, had meetings with the plumbing industry. My understanding is that they have already taken place. In relation to my office—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: If honourable members want to have a conversation, there is a thing called a passage out there. You can go out there and have your conversation, but you don't do it while the minister is talking and giving an answer to one of your questions.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: She was getting text messages while she was talking.

The PRESIDENT: It doesn't matter. There is a passage out there if you want to continue. The minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The commissioner has met with representatives from the industry, and they are pursuing those complaints. To the best of my knowledge, the plumbing industry has not written to me directly about their concerns and are dealing with it in the appropriate way.

In relation to the way the commission deals with complaints, they do a tremendous job, often in very difficult circumstances. Complaints can come in but, to be able to proceed to take action, a certain level of evidence needs to be made available and, often, these complaints are made with little or no evidence or substantiation. Obviously the commission has to deal with that when and where it occurs, but they do seek to expedite the investigation of all matters as quickly as they possibly can. Often, for a range of reasons, that can be very slow and cumbersome.

I am not sure of the details in this particular case, but I do know that CBS does attempt to expedite investigation into those matters where they can. They are often not completely straightforward and, as I said, particularly for those who are seeking prosecution or compensation, there is a certain level of evidence that needs to be provided to be able to pursue that sort of action.