Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Annual Report 2011–12
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- Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Officials Group
- Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Advisory Group
- Additional information The WELS website is at . Annual report 2011–12
- Executive summary
- Commonwealth environmental water in 2011–12
- Progress on key issues
Compliance and enforcementThe WELS Act includes a broad range of enforcement mechanisms for managing suspected or confirmed instances of non-compliance. For example, the department may seek an injunction from the Federal Court or issue an infringement notice. The Regulator also has the option to use administrative actions, such as enforceable undertakings as an alternative to prosecution, to help manufacturers, importers and retailers to meet their legal obligations under the WELS Act. The scheme includes an active compliance inspection program, which involves undertaking Australia wide visits of plumbing products and whitegoods suppliers. In 2011–12 over 176 visits of retail outlets and warehouses were conducted Australia wide. Enforcement action in 2011–12 included one application to the Federal Court for an order to comply with an enforceable undertaking, and the execution of five warrants. The Regulator also accepted 17 enforceable undertakings from companies that agreed to improve their business practices and provide awareness training to staff after failing to comply with national water efficiency labelling and standards legislation at their business premises. All inspections and follow up enforcement actions were undertaken in accordance with the department’s compliance and enforcement policy.
CommitteesWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards Officials GroupThe Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Officials Group comprises representatives from the states, territories and Commonwealth to consider matters relating to the review of the WELS scheme. It met on two occasions in 2011–12. Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Advisory GroupThe Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Advisory Group comprises representatives from the whitegoods, plumbing, consumer, water and retailing sectors. The advisory group provides advice from stakeholders to the Australian, state and territory governments on a range of matters, including the development of the strategic plan for the WELS scheme for the period 2012–15. The advisory group met four times in 2011–12 to provide advice on strategic and other policy matters to governments on the management of the WELS Scheme. CommunicationConsumer researchNationwide research, which included metropolitan and regional locations, was undertaken in late 2011 to assess awareness of the WELS scheme among household consumers (1134 subjects) and to a lesser extent industry (288 subjects). This research included questions about the channels used to obtain information on water efficient products including internet use and has helped to better target communications. To reveal trends in awareness of the WELS scheme the findings were compared with two earlier rounds of similar research undertaken in 2008 and 2009. Awareness of the scheme’s water rating labels has increased in the period from 2009 to 2011, to 67percent for household consumers and 84percent for industry. ReportingThis section is prepared in accordance with section 75 of the WELS Act. It covers the operation of the WELS Scheme from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. Additional informationThe WELS website is at Annual report 2011–12Commonwealth Environmental WaterPhoto of a Straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) nests and eggs, Gywdir wetlands, March 2012. Permission granted to use the photograph from the Commonwealth Environment Water Office. (Andrew Huxham) AbbreviationsBasin Murray–Darling Basin Department, the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Holder Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Standing Committee House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia GlossaryBasin states refers to those states and territories that cover the Murray–Darling Basin: the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. Commonwealth environmental water refers to the water managed by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to protect and restore rivers, wetlands and other environmental assets in the Murray–Darling Basin. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is the statutory position that heads Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. ContentsExecutive summary
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Commonwealth environmental water in 2011–12
Progress on key issues
Tables
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