[Received by email 24/8/06]

Response to Productivity Commission's Draft Report on NATA

Members of the Productivity Commission,

I am heartened by most of the conclusions in your "Draft Report on Standard Setting and Laboratory Accreditation (July 2006)" as concerns the activities of NATA. However, I am somewhat worried by one aspect, namely the apparent lack of understanding of the role of NATA,  with respect to ILAC and APLAC - the International and Asia-Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Committees.

The Australian Institute of Physics, which I represent on the NATA Council, is very well aware of HIDDEN BARRIERS TO TRADE (for example via non-recognition of standards of calibration and measurement) and the important role that NATA representatives play in combating this and other such undesirable practices.

We are of the opinion that a government committed to free trade should appreciate this and support NATA fully in its endeavours and in its participation in ILAC and APLAC.

I hope that this comment will be of use in your deliberations

Yours sincerely,

Anthony G. Klein AM
AIP Representative on NATA Council

Professor A.G. Klein AM, FAA
School of Physics
University of Melbourne
PARKVILLE, VIC 3010
AUSTRALIA