30-09-2020
News
Since the launch of the AGA Listed Gas Fitter Scheme on the 1st September 2020, we have received an overwhelmingly positive response and support from our industry. We welcome the hundreds of applications and inquiries already received nationwide from licensed gas fitters and also appreciate their valuable feedback.
The AGA Listed Gas Fitter Scheme has been designed to run national safety campaigns to promote public awareness that only licensed gas fitters should be engaged to install gas appliances, and the need for regular gas appliance servicing by licensed gas fitters. The objective is, over time, to heighten consumer awareness of the need for gas appliances to be serviced regularly, similar to the widely accepted servicing expectations consumers have with respect to motor cars.
The Scheme is new and the intention is to improve it over time to benefit our industry and our AGA Listed Gas Fitters whilst having consumer safety as priority. We welcome licensed gas fitters to either sign up and/or provide their feedback via our market research questionnaire https://www.aga.asn.au/gas-fitter-market-research-questionnaire/.
To date, gas fitters who sign up will receive a number of benefits, such as being licensed to use the AGA logo, receiving a monthly Newsletter (AGA Gas Fitter Digest) to keep them informed of the latest industry/Standard developments, promoted on the AGA Showroom and being listed on the AGA Gas Fitter Directory.
Go to https://www.aga.asn.au/gas-fitters/ for more details or contact us at office@aga.asn.au / (03) 95804500 to discuss with a member of our technical team.
Our August 2020 NewsFlash outlined the required transition dates to update AGA Certificates to the new Type 27 cylinder and appliance connection. This is based on a publication date of relevant Standards being October 2020.
The transition dates as advised for AGA Certifications are as follows:
Before 1st April 2021 (LPG Cylinder Valves)
The Type 27 valve becomes mandatory on new leisure cylinders – All AGA Cylinder and LPG valve Certifications must be updated before this date.
Before 1st October 2021 (LPG Leisure Appliances and LPG Regulators)
The Type 27 appliance connection becomes mandatory on appliances – All AGA LPG leisure appliances and LPG regulator Certifications must be updated before this date.
In addition to updating AGA Certifications, we have been advised by the Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC) of the relevant transition dates relating to selling and re-testing cylinders and leisure appliances in the field. These dates are as follows which again is based on Standard publication dates of October 2020:
Between 1st April 2021 and 30th September 2021 (LPG Cylinder Valves)
Both Type 21 (POL) and Type 27 cylinder valves can be sold as parts and inserted in new or retested cylinders.
After 1st October 2021 (LPG Cylinder Valves)
Type 21 (POL) valves cannot be
* Sold individually or as part of a new cylinders.
* Inserted in retested/requalified cylinders.
Type 27 valves must be used.
Between 1st October 2021 and 30th September 2031 (LPG Cylinder Valves)
The Type 21 (POL) valve remains approved for its service life until retest/re-qualification
Between 1st October 2021 and 31st March 2022 (LPG Leisure Appliances and LPG Regulators)
Both Type 21 (POL) and Type 27 connections on leisure appliances are allowed when sold.
After 1st April 2022 (LPG Leisure Appliances and LPG Regulators)
Only LPG leisure appliances and LPG regulators with a Type 27 cylinder connection are allowed to be sold.
Please contact your AGA Client Manager or email AGA at office@aga.asn.au if you have any questions.
The history of the Australian Gas Association dates back to 1925 and was established as a membership-based and not-for-profit body. AGA’s primary objective is consumer safety and over the years has been involved in the development of Australian Gas Standards, laboratory testing approval/certification of gas products and promotion of the gas industry.
Go to https://www.aga.asn.au/about/history/ to read about AGA’s history.
Be sure to watch the promotional video under the “Promotion of the Australian Gas Industry” section!
In early January 2020, COVID-19 seemed a foreign and distant phenomenon, very far from Australian shores. By the end of March, it was hitting the Australian economy hard and fast, resulting in a record number of people losing jobs in a matter of weeks with the majority of job losses being in the retail and hospitality sectors. Australian businesses continue to experience the financial impact of COVID-19 and most economic commentators are predicting a long and grueling recovery.
As a direct result of the hotel quarantine debacle, Victoria has been the worst hit state after suffering a second wave of the virus. Consequently, the Federal and Vic State governments are extending their support beyond what was first assumed be an appropriate amount of time. JobKeeper payments have been extended for businesses that have lost 30% or more actual revenue for July-September and October-December quarters when compared to same period last year. Eligible businesses can continue to receive the JobKeeper allowance to end of March 2021. Please visit the ATO website link below for further information and to assess your eligibility.
The Victorian Government has also announced a Third Round of the Business Support Fund for affected businesses. For businesses operating in other States and Territories, please visit you respective State or Territory government’s website. Please visit the link below for further details on your eligibility in Victoria.
Our overseas Members and colleagues are also in our thoughts and prayers and we certainly hope that Australia along with rest of the World emerge from this pandemic sooner rather than later in order for the adverse financial and emotional impact on businesses and individuals are minimised.
Please stay safe and look out for each other.
For more than ten years climate change action in Australia has fallen victim to bitter political division and claimed the political scalps of a succession of leaders including Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. The saddest aspect of this political divide is that our parliament has been unable to implement a coherent energy policy at a time when, arguably, one is needed more than at any other time in our history.
In recent days Scott Morrison has begun to layout what can best be described as a pragmatic approach to respond to the challenges of implementing a policy on climate change. Announcing the development of the technology roadmap , Federal Energy & Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said the goal was to bring a strategic and system-wide view to future investments in low-emissions technologies. Part of the government’s strategy is to leave development of technologies that had reached commercial viability to private investment whilst the government would be prepared to invest in technologies that showed promise. The government plans to identify “clean” hydrogen, energy storage, “low-carbon” steel and aluminium, carbon capture and storage and soil carbon as priority technologies slated for investment as part of its technology roadmap.
As part of the technology mix the roadmap includes goals such as getting the price of hydrogen production below $2 per kilogram and commercialisation of carbon capture and storage to enable low-emissions heavy industry and prolong the use of fossil fuels.
Despite the fact that every state government now has a policy of zero emissions by 2050, to date the Prime Minister has refused to commit to such a target but claims that Australia will almost certainly be emissions neutral by 2050 but the official target remains the Paris Agreement pledge to cut emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Another example of the government’s thinking is provided by the Prime Minister’s announcement last week in relation to the Liddell Power Station which will be retired in 2023. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pressured AGL to either keep Liddell open or sell it to someone else who would be prepare to do so. At the time many argued that this hardly seemed a viable option given the age and condition of the 2,000 megawatts Liddell power station.
Last week, Prime Minister Morrison announced the Government was “setting a target for the electricity sector to deliver 1,000 megawatts of new dispatchable energy to replace the Liddell power station before it closes down in 2023”.
The Prime Minister then announced that the Government would step up and back a new gas power plant in the Hunter Valley if the sector doesn’t replace the Liddell power station before it closes in 2023.
Industry has repeatedly called on this, and previous governments to announce a clear and comprehensive energy policy in order to achieve a level of policy certainty that would encourage investment in technologies to help meet climate change challenges. Whilst the government’s recent announcements do provide clearer signals to industry, it stopped short of announcing a coherent energy policy with clearly stated targets.
AS 2030.2 (The verification, filling, inspection, testing and maintenance of cylinders for the storage and transport of compressed gases, Part 2:Cylinders for dissolved acetylene) is open for public comment until the 20th October 20
If you would like to submit any comments, you may forward them to our Group Manager, Technical Operations, Mr Bill (Vasilios) Tabourlos [btabourlos@aga.asn.au], or directly through the Standards Australia website: Click Here