Australian Industry Group members are set to benefit from a trans-Tasman deal on standards reached this week.
Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand signed the Standards Development and Distribution Agreement on Monday.
“It’s an important step forward for trans‑Tasman standards cooperation,” James Thomson, our Lead - Standards and Product Regulation, said.
“This agreement really matters to our members.
“Australian Industry Group has about 250 industry representatives across more than 350 standards committees, many of them joint Australian-New Zealand committees, covering a broad range of sectors across both economies.
“These are people from industry giving their time and expertise to make sure standards are practical and relevant. This agreement provides a stronger foundation for that work.”
The agreement is a credit to both standards bodies for their leadership and collaboration and to the Australian and New Zealand governments for supporting a framework that recognises the value of closer cooperation across the Tasman, said Mr Thomson, pictured at the launch of our report Artificial Intelligence: Positive for companies, their people, and Australian Industry.
“From an industry perspective, we strongly support the direction of the Standards Development and Distribution Agreement,” he added.
“One of the most positive outcomes is the abolition of commissioning fees.
“This removes a long‑standing barrier to participation and makes it easier for industry experts to be involved, particularly for businesses that operate in both Australia and New Zealand.”
Looking ahead, Australian Industry Group is keen to see standards become easier to access. That means more user‑friendly distribution platforms and clear pathways to reducing the cost of accessing standards over time. More affordable and accessible standards support compliance, innovation and productivity, especially for small and medium‑sized businesses.
“We also hope this closer relationship facilitates increasing alignment of regulatory settings that affect the movement of goods, particularly in the building and electrical sectors,” Mr Thomson said.
“Better alignment can mean less duplication, lower costs and faster access to market.
“Finally, our members look forward to even greater participation from New Zealand stakeholders in the future — continuing to work together in the true ANZAC spirit to strengthen outcomes for industry on both sides of the Tasman.”
Click here to learn more about the work of our Standards and Product Regulation team.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at Australian Industry Group.
A former journalist for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK, she is passionate about giving businesses a voice.
