Saturday, 2 September 2006

Response to the draft report of 25th July 2006 on the Inquiry into Standards Australia.

SIA fully supports the recommendations made by the Commission regarding Standards Australia.

Australia needs the best possible standards system for economic and productivity reasons. By having such standards the chances of getting tasks done right and done safely the first time improve markedly.

SIA wishes to reiterate two important issues.

1/ Draft recommendation 7.3 refers to the need to provide low cost access to Australian Standards referenced in legislation. SIA also sees this as extremely important and possibly the most important issue. It is untenable that what is effectively “legislation” (and is prepared by volunteers) is not readily available to many potential users due to economic reasons with resultant high chances that this less prosperous group will not be able to utilise important information and be rather disadvantaged.

2/ Draft recommendations 8.3 and 8.4 refer to improving conditions for the volunteers participating on the standards committees. SIA sees this as an extremely important avenue towards the goal of the best possible standards being produced. 
A proposal mentioned in others’ submissions which may further assist volunteers who are self-employed (and maybe others as well)  is if there was to be tax relief for time given to such work. That is to be able to claim a tax exemption for the hours spent on committee work at their normal charge out rate. This surely must be worth exploring and SIA supports this concept. 

In conclusion:
SIA looks forward to the best possible system of standards setting evolving from the  inquiry. 
SIA looks forward to appropriate assistance being provided to all persons who assist by being volunteers on committees.
SIA looks forward to much lower costs for particularly packages of high quality standards for its members.
SIA looks forward to continuing to be able to provide extensive technical assistance by having volunteers on Standards Australia Committees and to be able to increase this, if required, and without financial burden on its members.

Jonathan Amies  CFSIA RSP(AUST)
National Technical Chair