In a regulatory environment increasingly characterised by accelerated change, complex compliance obligations and fragmented jurisdictional approaches, Australian Industry Group has demonstrated what coordinated, evidence‑based and persistent advocacy can achieve.
The recent decisions by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and the NSW Government to grant a national extension of the WaterMark lead‑free transition period and a NSW‑specific sell‑through extension for washing machines respectively represent more than administrative wins; they are an example of how industry bodies can influence policy settings in ways that protect both public safety objectives and the practical realities of manufacturing and supply chains.
Both issues highlight a deeper systemic challenge: regulators often do not fully understand the complexities of supply chains, including the problem of slow‑moving stock. Too often, regulatory timelines are viewed as if supply chains operate like a tap that can simply be turned on and off, rather than intricate, multi‑stage systems with long lead times, storage constraints and commercial dependencies. Australian Industry Group’s advocacy repeatedly emphasised this mismatch between regulatory expectation and operational reality.
The lead‑free decision followed escalating concern across the plumbing and manufacturing sectors over looming stock write‑offs as the original transition deadline approached. After significant concerns were raised across the sector, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) ultimately extended the implementation timeframe reflecting both industry realities and the need to maintain confidence in regulatory settings. Throughout this process, Australian Industry Group consulted extensively with its members through the Domestic Water Products (DWP) Technical Group, ensuring sector‑wide impacts and practical considerations were accurately represented in discussions.
The advocacy effort was grounded in quantifiable impacts. Across the plumbing supply chain, businesses faced nine‑figure losses due to unsold non‑lead‑free stock. These losses were unrelated to safety concerns but arose from delays in accreditation processes, supply chain disruptions and compressed implementation timelines. Products on the market remained safe, and Australian Industry Group emphasised this consistently. Similarly, NSW’s early compliance date for washing machines risked regulatory fragmentation, unnecessary stock destruction and confusion among suppliers already aligned with national sell‑through dates. During this process, Australian Industry Group consulted its members to ensure member perspectives on washing machine compliance and sell‑through challenges were fully captured and conveyed to government.
Australian Industry Group strengthened its advocacy by systematically gathering evidence. In December 2024, a comprehensive questionnaire was issued to members to quantify the scale of potential write‑offs and the broader commercial consequences of the transition period. On 1 May, the two‑year mark of the lead‑free transition period, the organisation convened an industry‑wide forum to gauge perspectives, identify common concerns and ensure that the views of members across the supply chain were captured clearly and accurately. This work ensured that subsequent representations to government were grounded in verified, sector‑wide insights.
Direct and timely engagement with decision‑makers further contributed to the success of the advocacy effort. A briefing provided to the NSW Minister for Building outlined clear, evidence‑based requests linked to the impacts on members operating within NSW. A meeting held on 29 October brought together senior representatives from across the membership, ensuring the government received a unified and credible account of the challenges and the urgency of addressing them.
Outcomes followed swiftly. On 19 December, the NSW Government signalled support for extending the sell‑through period for plumbing products. On 22 December, confirmation followed that the washing machine sell‑through extension would also be granted. By 24 December, the formal exemption notice had been issued — an unusually rapid turnaround at the end of the year, reflecting the strength and clarity of the case presented.
These decisions deliver broad economic and environmental benefits. They prevent unnecessary waste associated with destroying compliant products, help stabilise consumer prices by preventing artificial shortages and allow member businesses to manage transitions in a commercially sustainable manner. Importantly, regulatory integrity remains intact: safety standards have not been weakened; only the timing of compliance has been aligned with practical operational realities.
Our advocacy across 2024 and 2025 demonstrates the impact of coordinated, evidence‑driven industry engagement. From sector‑wide data collection and forums to direct ministerial engagement, Australian Industry Group’s efforts offer a model for effective policy interaction. In a period marked by regulatory complexity and economic uncertainty, this success highlights the value of structured, constructive advocacy in supporting both industry resilience and the broader Australian economy.
James is the Lead – Standards and Product Regulation at Australian Industry Group. He manages members' engagement with Standards Australia (circa 250 representatives on 350 committees), regulatory advocacy in the electrical and plumbing space and member forums on a range of topics.
James holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a master's in Professional Accounting.
