{"id":"a-2015-4","name":"Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015","slug":"water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"4 of 2015","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":24493,"registerId":"act-a-2015-4-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nWater Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (ACT) Act 2015\nA2015-4\nRepublication No 2\nEffective: 26 November 2025\nRepublication date: 26 November 2025\nLast amendment made by A2025-28\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015\n(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes))\nas in force on 26 November 2025. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or\nexpiry affecting this republished law to 26 November 2025.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nWater Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (ACT) Act 2015\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act 2\n3 Object of Act 2\n4 Dictionary 2\n5 Notes 3\n6 Terms used in Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005\n(Cwlth) 3\n7 References to Commonwealth Acts 3\nPart 2 Applied provisions\n8 Application of Commonwealth laws as a law of Territory 4\n9 Modification of Commonwealth water efficiency laws 4\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n10 Interpretation of applied provisions 4\nPart 3 Functions under applied provisions\n11 Functions of Commonwealth Regulator and other authorities and\nofficers 6\n12 Delegations by Commonwealth Regulator 6\nPart 4 Offences\n13 Object of pt 4 7\n14 Application of Commonwealth criminal laws to offences against\napplied provisions 8\n15 Functions conferred on Commonwealth officers and authorities\nrelating to offences 8\n16 No double jeopardy for offences against applied provisions 9\nPart 5 Administrative laws\n17 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied\nprovisions 10\n18 Functions conferred on Commonwealth officers and authorities 11\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\n19 Things done for multiple purposes 12\n20 Reference in Commonwealth law to provision of another law 12\n21 Fees and other money 12\n22 Regulation-making power 12\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional\n24 Transitional 13\n\nContents\nPage\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\ncontents 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nSchedule 1 Modifications––Water Efficiency Labelling\nand Standards Act 2005 (Cwlth) 14\nDictionary 15\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 17\n2 Abbreviation key 17\n3 Legislation history 18\n4 Amendment history 18\n5 Earlier republications 19\n\n\n\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nWater Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (ACT) Act 2015\nAn Act to apply as a law of the Territory a national law relating to water\nefficiency labelling and standards, and for other purposes\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nSection 1\npage 2 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015.\n3 Object of Act\n(1) The object of this Act is to adopt in the Territory a uniform national\napproach to the regulation of water efficiency labelling and standards.\n(2) This Act—\n(a) applies the Commonwealth water efficiency laws as a law of the\nTerritory; and\n(b) makes provision to enable the Commonwealth water efficiency\nlaws and the applied provisions to be administered on a uniform\nbasis by the Commonwealth as if they constituted a single law\nof the Commonwealth.\n4 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this\nAct, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined\nelsewhere in this Act.\nFor example, the signpost definition ‘applied provisions––see\nsection 8 (1).’ means that the term ‘applied provisions’ is defined in that\nsection.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to\nthe entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,\nprovides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see\nLegislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).\n\nPreliminary Part 1\nSection 5\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\nNote See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.\n6 Terms used in Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards\nAct 2005 (Cwlth)\nTerms used in this Act and also in the Water Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards Act 2005 (Cwlth) have the same meanings in this Act as\nthey have in that Act.\n7 References to Commonwealth Acts\nIn this Act, a reference to a Commonwealth Act includes a reference\nto—\n(a) the Commonwealth Act, as in force from time to time; and\n(b) if another Act is substituted for the Commonwealth Act—the\nsubstituted Act, as in force from time to time.\n\nPart 2 Applied provisions\nSection 8\npage 4 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 2 Applied provisions\n8 Application of Commonwealth laws as a law of Territory\n(1) The Commonwealth water efficiency laws, as in force from time to\ntime and as modified by or under this Act including schedule 1, (the\napplied provisions), apply as a law of the Territory.\n(2) The Commonwealth water efficiency laws apply as if they extended\nto matters in relation to which the Territory may make laws—\n(a) whether or not the Commonwealth may make laws in relation to\nthose matters; and\n(b) even though the Commonwealth water efficiency laws provide\nthat they apply only to stated matters in relation to which the\nCommonwealth may make laws.\n9 Modification of Commonwealth water efficiency laws\n(1) A regulation under this Act may also modify the Commonwealth\nwater efficiency laws for this Act.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a regulation may provide that the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws apply under section 8 (1) as if\nan amendment to the Commonwealth water efficiency laws made by\nthe Commonwealth and stated in the regulation had not taken effect.\n10 Interpretation of applied provisions\n(1) The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cwlth) applies as a law of the\nTerritory in relation to the interpretation of the applied provisions,\nand applies as if the applied provisions were a Commonwealth Act or\nwere regulations or other instruments under a Commonwealth Act, as\nthe case requires.\n\nApplied provisions Part 2\nSection 10\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) The Legislation Act does not apply to the applied provisions.\nNote Despite the Legislation Act not applying to the applied provisions, it\napplies to this Act and to instruments made under this Act.\n\nPart 3 Functions under applied provisions\nSection 11\npage 6 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Functions under applied\nprovisions\n11 Functions of Commonwealth Regulator and other\nauthorities and officers\nThe Commonwealth Regulator and other authorities and officers\nmentioned in the applied provisions have the same functions under\nthe applied provisions as they have under the Commonwealth water\nefficiency laws, as those laws apply to the Commonwealth.\nNote 1 Function includes authority, duty and power (see Legislation Act, dict,\npt 1).\nNote 2 A provision of a law that gives an entity (including a person) a function\nalso gives the entity powers necessary and convenient to exercise the\nfunction (see Legislation Act, s 196 and dict, pt 1, def entity).\n12 Delegations by Commonwealth Regulator\nAny delegation by the Commonwealth Regulator under the Water\nEfficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cwlth) is taken to\nextend to, and have effect for the corresponding provision of the\napplied provisions.\n\nOffences Part 4\nSection 13\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 4 Offences\n13 Object of pt 4\n(1) The object of this part is to further the object of this Act by providing\nfor an offence against the applied provisions to be treated as if it were\nan offence against a law of the Commonwealth.\n(2) The purposes for which an offence is to be treated as mentioned in\nsubsection (1) include, for example—\n(a) the investigation and prosecution of offences; and\n(b) the arrest, custody, bail, trial and conviction of offenders or\npeople charged with offences; and\n(c) proceedings relating to a matter mentioned in paragraph (a)\nor (b); and\n(d) appeals and reviews relating to criminal proceedings and to\nproceedings of the kind mentioned in paragraph (c); and\n(e) the sentencing, punishment and release of people convicted of\noffences; and\n(f) fines, penalties and forfeitures; and\n(g) infringement notices in relation to offences; and\n(h) liability to make reparation in relation to offences; and\n(i) proceeds of crime; and\n(j) spent convictions.\n\nPart 4 Offences\nSection 14\npage 8 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n14 Application of Commonwealth criminal laws to offences\nagainst applied provisions\n(1) The relevant Commonwealth laws apply as laws of the Territory in\nrelation to an offence against the applied provisions as if those\nprovisions were a law of the Commonwealth and not a law of the\nTerritory.\n(2) For a law of the Territory, an offence against the applied provisions—\n(a) is taken to be an offence against the laws of the Commonwealth,\nin the same way as if those provisions were a law of the\nCommonwealth; and\n(b) is taken not to be an offence against the laws of the Territory.\n(3) Subsection (2) has effect for a law of the Territory other than as\nprovided by a regulation made under this Act.\n15 Functions conferred on Commonwealth officers and\nauthorities relating to offences\n(1) A Commonwealth law applying because of section 14 that confers on\na Commonwealth officer or authority a function in relation to an\noffence against the Commonwealth water efficiency laws also\nconfers on the officer or authority the same function in relation to an\noffence against the corresponding provision of the applied provisions.\n(2) In exercising a function conferred by this section, the Commonwealth\nofficer or authority must act as nearly as practicable as the officer or\nauthority would act in exercising the same function in relation to an\noffence against the corresponding provision of the Commonwealth\nwater efficiency laws.\nNote 1 Function includes authority, duty and power (see Legislation Act, dict,\npt 1).\nNote 2 A provision of a law that gives an entity (including a person) a function\nalso gives the entity powers necessary and convenient to exercise the\nfunction (see Legislation Act, s 196 and dict, pt 1, def entity).\n\nOffences Part 4\nSection 16\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n16 No double jeopardy for offences against applied\nprovisions\nAn offender is not liable to be punished for an offence under the\napplied provisions if—\n(a) the act or omission is an offence against both the applied\nprovisions and the Commonwealth water efficiency laws; and\n(b) the offender has been punished for the offence under the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws.\n\nPart 5 Administrative laws\nSection 17\npage 10 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 5 Administrative laws\n17 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to\napplied provisions\n(1) The Commonwealth administrative laws apply as laws of the\nTerritory to any matter arising in relation to the applied provisions as\nif those provisions were a law of the Commonwealth and not a law of\nthe Territory.\n(2) For a law of the Territory, a matter arising in relation to the applied\nprovisions—\n(a) is taken to be a matter arising in relation to laws of the\nCommonwealth, in the same way as if those provisions were a\nlaw of the Commonwealth; and\n(b) is taken not to be a matter arising in relation to laws of the\nTerritory.\n(3) Subsection (2) has effect for a law of the Territory other than as\nprovided by a regulation made under this Act.\n(4) Any provision of a Commonwealth administrative law applying\nbecause of this section that purports to confer jurisdiction on a federal\ncourt is taken not to have that effect.\n(5) For this section, a reference in a provision of the Administrative\nReview Tribunal Act 2024 (Cwlth) (as that provision applies as a law\nof this jurisdiction) to the whole or any part of that Act, part 7\n(Appeals and references of questions of law to Federal Court) is taken\nto be a reference to the whole or any part of that part as it has effect\nas a law of the Commonwealth.\n\nAdministrative laws Part 5\nSection 18\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n18 Functions conferred on Commonwealth officers and\nauthorities\n(1) A Commonwealth administrative law applying because of section 17\nthat confers on a Commonwealth officer or authority a function also\nconfers on the officer or authority the same function in relation to a\nmatter arising in relation to the applied provisions.\n(2) In exercising a function conferred by this section, the Commonwealth\nofficer or authority must act as nearly as practicable as the officer or\nauthority would act in exercising the same function under the\nCommonwealth administrative law.\nNote 1 Function includes authority, duty and power (see Legislation Act, dict,\npt 1).\nNote 2 A provision of a law that gives an entity (including a person) a function\nalso gives the entity powers necessary and convenient to exercise the\nfunction (see Legislation Act, s 196 and dict, pt 1, def entity).\n\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\nSection 19\npage 12 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 6 Miscellaneous\n19 Things done for multiple purposes\nThe validity of a licence, certificate or other thing issued, given or\ndone for the applied provisions is not affected only because it was\nissued, given or done also for the Commonwealth water efficiency\nlaws.\n20 Reference in Commonwealth law to provision of another\nlaw\nFor section 14 and section 17, a reference in a Commonwealth law to\na provision of that or another Commonwealth law is taken to be a\nreference to that provision as applying because of those sections.\n21 Fees and other money\nAll fees, penalties, fines and other money that, under this Act and the\napplied provisions, are authorised or directed to be payable by or\nimposed on any person (but not including an amount ordered to be\nrefunded to another person) must be paid to the Commonwealth.\n22 Regulation-making power\n(1) The Executive may make regulations for this Act.\nNote A regulation must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly,\nunder the Legislation Act.\n(2) A regulation may create offences and fix maximum penalties of not\nmore than 30 penalty units for the offences.\n\nRepeal and transitional Part 7\nSection 24\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 13\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional\n24 Transitional\n(1) On the commencement day, anything that was in effect in relation to\nthe repealed Act immediately before the commencement day\nbecomes a thing with the same effect in relation to this Act and the\napplied provisions.\n(2) In this section:\ncommencement day means the day this Act, section 8 commences.\nrepealed Act means the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards\nAct 2005.\n\nSchedule 1 Modifications––Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cwlth)\npage 14 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nSchedule 1 Modifications––Water\nEfficiency Labelling and\nStandards Act 2005 (Cwlth)\n(see s 8)\n[1.1] Section 51 (3)\nomit\nPenalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.\nsubstitute\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n[1.2] Section 61 (3)\nomit\nPenalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.\nsubstitute\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n[1.3] Section 62 (3) and (4)\nomit\nPenalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.\nsubstitute\nMaximum penalty: 60 penalty units.\n\nDictionary\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 15\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 4)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis Act.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:\n• Commonwealth\n• Executive\n• exercise\n• function\n• in relation to\n• power\n• regulation\n• the Territory.\napplied provisions—see section 8 (1).\nCommonwealth administrative laws means the following\nCommonwealth Acts and regulations:\n(a) the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (other than part 7);\n(b) the Freedom of Information Act 1982;\n(c) the Ombudsman Act 1976;\n(d) the Privacy Act 1988;\n(e) the regulations in force under any of those Acts.\nCommonwealth Regulator means the Regulator under the Water\nEfficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cwlth), section 21.\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws means—\n(a) the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cwlth);\nand\n(b) all regulations, guidelines, principles, standards and codes of\npractice in force under that Act.\n\nDictionary\npage 16 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nmodify includes add to, omit and substitute.\noffence includes a contravention for which a civil penalty may be\nimposed.\n\nEndnotes\nAbout the endnotes 1\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 17\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 18 Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\nR2\n26/11/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015 A2015-4\nnotified LR 2 March 2015\ns 1, s 2 commenced 2 March 2015 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 3 March 2015 (s 2)\nas amended by\nEnvironment Legislation Amendment Act 2025 A2025-28 pt 11\nnotified LR 12 November 2025\ns 1, s 2 commenced 12 November 2025 (LA s 75 (1))\npt 11 commenced 26 November 2025 (s 2)\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 89 (4)\nApplication of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied provisions\ns 17 am A2025-28 s 42, s 43\nLegislation repealed\ns 23 om LA s 89 (3)\nDictionary\ndict def Commonwealth administrative laws am A2025-28 s 44\n\nEndnotes\nEarlier republications 5\nR2\n26/11/25\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT)\nAct 2015\nEffective: 26/11/25\npage 19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n3 Mar 2015\n3 Mar 2015–\n25 Nov 2025\nnot amended new Act\n© Australian Capital Territory 2025","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendments in 2025 expanded how Commonwealth administrative laws apply to the applied provisions (s17 as amended by A2025‑28; dict def amended A2025‑28 s44) and replaced certain imprisonment penalties with maximum monetary penalties of 60 penalty units for specified offences (schedule 1 [1.1]–[1.3]). The Act continues to apply the Commonwealth regime in the ACT but with these substantive modifications to procedures and sanctions (ss8,17; schedule 1)."},"complexity_factors":["Dual‑layer application: Commonwealth water efficiency laws are applied as Territory law but can be modified by this Act and regulations (s8, s9; schedule 1).","Interpretation regime shift: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cwlth) applies for interpretation of the applied provisions, while the ACT Legislation Act does not (s10).","Administrative law crossover: specified Commonwealth administrative laws apply to matters under the applied provisions, with limits on federal court jurisdiction (s17; dict).","Criminal law integration: offences under the applied provisions are treated as Commonwealth offences for investigation, prosecution and sentencing, preventing double jeopardy and shifting procedural rules (ss13–16).","Delegation and functions: Commonwealth Regulator delegations and functions under the Commonwealth Act operate in the ACT context, centralising decision‑making (ss11–12, 15, 18).","Penalty and enforcement mechanics modified: schedule 1 replaces certain imprisonment penalties with monetary penalty units, changing sanction types (schedule 1 [1.1]–[1.3]).","Financial flow: fees, fines and other money authorised under the applied provisions are payable to the Commonwealth, altering revenue recipients (s21).","Regulation power and local exceptions: ACT Executive may make regulations (including creating low‑level offences) but broader Legislation Act rules do not apply to the applied provisions, creating drafting and operational exceptions (s22, s10(2))."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act adopts the Commonwealth Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (and its instruments) as Territory law, with ACT-specific modifications, so the Commonwealth Regulator can administer and enforce water-efficiency labelling and standards in the ACT (s3, s8, s11). Criminal and administrative procedures for breaches follow Commonwealth rules (ss14,17) and fees and penalties are paid to the Commonwealth (s21). Regulated businesses therefore bear compliance and enforcement costs, while enforcement discretion and decision‑making rest with Commonwealth officers (ss11,15,18)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original purpose of adopting the national WELS scheme for the ACT. The 2025 amendments updated references from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to the new Administrative Review Tribunal (2024), which is a machinery change rather than scope expansion. The core function remains applying Commonwealth water efficiency laws as Territory law."},"complexity_factors":["Short primary text (22 sections plus schedule) but incorporates by reference the entire Commonwealth Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 and associated regulations","Complex 'application' mechanism where Commonwealth laws apply as Territory law with modifications (Schedule 1 only contains 3 specific modifications)","Cross-referencing architecture: heavy reliance on defined terms pointing to Commonwealth legislation (e.g., 'Commonwealth water efficiency laws', 'Commonwealth administrative laws')","Dual legal framework creates interpretive complexity - must read ACT Act alongside Commonwealth Act, with the ACT Legislation Act applying to the ACT Act but the Commonwealth Acts Interpretation Act 1901 applying to the 'applied provisions'","Specific modifications limited to penalty substitutions (removing imprisonment) and administrative law updates","Functional duplication provisions ensuring Commonwealth officers can exercise powers in the ACT context"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act adopts the Commonwealth Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme as ACT law, making national water-efficiency labels and minimum product standards apply in the Territory and placing administration with the national regulator. It affects manufacturers, suppliers and retailers who must register and label products, and benefits consumers through clearer efficiency information. The ACT replaces imprisonment penalties with fines and aligns administrative review processes, creating a seamless national market and bolstering water savings."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015","history":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-act-act-2015/documents"}}