{"id":"water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014","name":"Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014","slug":"water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30646,"registerId":"nt-water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nWATER EFFICIENCY LABELLING AND STANDARDS (NATIONAL\nUNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2014\nAs in force at 10 February 2026\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Purpose of Act ................................................................................. 1\n3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1\n4 Act binds Crown .............................................................................. 2\nPart 2 Applied provisions\n5 Application of Commonwealth laws as a law of Territory ................. 3\n6 Modification of Commonwealth water efficiency laws ...................... 3\n7 Interpretation of applied provisions .................................................. 3\nPart 3 Functions and powers under applied\nprovisions\n8 Functions and powers of Commonwealth Regulator and other\nauthorities and officers .................................................................... 4\n9 Delegations by the Commonwealth Regulator................................. 4\nPart 4 Offences\n10 Purpose of Part................................................................................ 4\n11 Application of Commonwealth criminal laws to offences\nagainst applied provisions ............................................................... 5\n12 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers\nand authorities relating to offences .................................................. 5\n13 No double jeopardy for offences against applied provisions ............ 5\nPart 5 Administrative laws\n14 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied\nprovisions ........................................................................................ 6\n15 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers\nand authorities ................................................................................. 6\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\n16 Things done for multiple purposes................................................... 7\n17 Reference in Commonwealth law to a provision of another law ...... 7\n\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 ii\n18 Fees and other money..................................................................... 7\n19 Regulations of Territory ................................................................... 7\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional matters\n20 Act repealed .................................................................................... 7\n21 Transitional matters for Water Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 ......................... 7\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 10 February 2026\n____________________\nWATER EFFICIENCY LABELLING AND STANDARDS (NATIONAL\nUNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2014\nAn Act to apply as a law of the Territory a national law relating to water\nefficiency labelling and standards, and for related purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Water Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014.\n2 Purpose of Act\n(1) The purpose of this Act is to adopt in the Territory a uniform\nnational approach to the regulation of water efficiency labelling and\nstandards.\n(2) Accordingly, this Act:\n(a) applies the Commonwealth water efficiency laws as a law of\nthe Territory; and\n(b) makes provision to enable the Commonwealth water efficiency\nlaws and the applied provisions to be administered on a\nuniform basis by the Commonwealth as if they constituted a\nsingle law of the Commonwealth.\n3 Interpretation\n(1) In this Act:\napplied provisions means the Commonwealth water efficiency\nlaws that apply as a law of the Territory because of section 5,\nincluding any modification under section 6.\nCommonwealth administrative laws means the following:\n(a) the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth) (excluding\nPart 7);\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 2\n(b) the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth);\n(c) the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth);\n(d) the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth);\n(e) the regulations in force under any of those Acts.\nCommonwealth Regulator means the WELS Regulator appointed\nunder the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cth).\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws means:\n(a) the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cth);\nand\n(b) all regulations, guidelines, principles, standards and codes of\npractice in force under that Act.\nfunction includes a duty.\nmodify includes add to, omit and substitute.\noffence includes a contravention for which a civil penalty may be\nimposed.\n(2) Terms used in this Act and also in the Water Efficiency Labelling\nand Standards Act 2005 (Cth) have the same meanings in this Act\nas they have in that Act.\n(3) In this Act, a reference to a Commonwealth Act includes a\nreference to:\n(a) that Commonwealth Act, as amended and in force for the time\nbeing; and\n(b) if another Act is substituted for that Commonwealth Act – the\nsubstituted Act as amended and in force for the time being.\n4 Act binds Crown\nThis Act binds the Crown in right of the Territory and, to the extent\nthe legislative power of the Legislative Assembly permits, the\nCrown in all its other capacities.\n\nPart 2 Applied provisions\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 3\nPart 2 Applied provisions\n5 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, apply as a law of the\nTerritory.\n(2) The Commonwealth water efficiency laws so apply as if they\nextended to matters in relation to which the Territory may make\nlaws:\n(a) whether or not the Commonwealth may make laws in relation\nto those matters; and\n(b) even though the Commonwealth water efficiency laws provide\nthat they apply only to specified matters with respect to which\nthe Commonwealth may make laws.\n6 Modification of Commonwealth water efficiency laws\n(1) Regulations under this Act may also modify the Commonwealth\nwater efficiency laws for the purposes of this Act.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may provide that the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws apply under section 5(1) as if\nan amendment to the Commonwealth water efficiency laws:\n(a) made by a law of the Commonwealth; and\n(b) specified in the regulations;\nhad not taken effect.\n7 Interpretation of applied provisions\n(1) The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) applies as a law of the\nTerritory in relation to the interpretation of the applied provisions,\nand so applies as if the applied provisions were a Commonwealth\nAct or were regulations or other instruments under a\nCommonwealth Act, as the case requires.\n(2) The Interpretation Act 1978 does not apply to the applied\nprovisions.\nNote for subsection (2)\nEven though the Interpretation Act 1978 does not apply to the applied provisions,\nit applies to this Act and to instruments made under this Act.\n\nPart 4 Offences\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 4\nPart 3 Functions and powers under applied\nprovisions\n8 Functions and powers of Commonwealth Regulator and other\nauthorities and officers\nThe Commonwealth Regulator and other authorities and officers\nreferred to in the applied provisions have the same functions and\npowers under the applied provisions as they have under the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws, as those laws apply to the\nCommonwealth.\n9 Delegations by the Commonwealth Regulator\nAny delegation by the Commonwealth Regulator under the Water\nEfficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cth) is taken to\nextend to, and have effect for the purposes of, the corresponding\nprovision of the applied provisions.\nPart 4 Offences\n10 Purpose of Part\n(1) The purpose of this Part is to further the purpose of this Act by\nproviding for an offence against the applied provisions to be treated\nas if it were an 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 (but are not limited to):\n(a) the investigation and prosecution of offences; and\n(b) the arrest, custody, bail, trial and conviction of offenders or\npersons charged with offences; and\n(c) proceedings relating to a matter referred to in paragraph (a)\nor (b); and\n(d) appeals and reviews relating to criminal proceedings and to\nproceedings of the kind referred to in paragraph (c); and\n(e) the sentencing, punishment and release of persons convicted\nof offences; and\n(f) fines, penalties and forfeitures; and\n(g) infringement notices in connection with offences; and\n(h) liability to make reparation in connection with offences; and\n\nPart 4 Offences\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 5\n(i) proceeds of crime; and\n(j) spent convictions.\n11 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 the purposes of a law of the Territory, an offence against the\napplied provisions:\n(a) is taken to be an offence against the 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 an offence against the laws of the Territory.\n(3) Subsection (2) has effect for the purposes of a law of the Territory\nexcept as provided by the regulations made under this Act.\n12 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers\nand authorities relating to offences\n(1) A Commonwealth law applying because of section 11 that confers\non a Commonwealth officer or authority a function or power in\nrelation to an offence against the Commonwealth water efficiency\nlaws also confers on the officer or authority the same function or\npower in relation to an offence against the corresponding provision\nof the applied provisions.\n(2) In performing a function or exercising a power conferred by this\nsection, the Commonwealth officer or authority must act as nearly\nas practicable as the officer or authority would act in performing or\nexercising the same function or power in relation to an offence\nagainst the corresponding provision of the Commonwealth water\nefficiency laws.\n13 No double jeopardy for offences against applied provisions\nIf:\n(a) an 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 that offence under the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws;\n\nPart 5 Administrative laws\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 6\nthe offender is not liable to be punished for the offence under the\napplied provisions.\nPart 5 Administrative laws\n14 Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied\nprovisions\n(1) The Commonwealth administrative laws apply as laws of the\nTerritory to any matter arising in relation to the applied provisions\nas if those provisions were a law of the Commonwealth and not a\nlaw of the Territory.\n(2) For the purposes of a law of the Territory, a matter arising in\nrelation to the applied provisions:\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 the purposes of a law of the Territory\nexcept as provided by the Regulations 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\nfederal court is taken not to have that effect.\n(5) For the purposes of this section, a reference in a provision of the\nAdministrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) (as that provision\napplies as a law of this jurisdiction) to the whole or any part of\nPart IVA of that Act is taken to be a reference to the whole or any\npart of that Part as it has effect as a law of the Commonwealth.\n15 Functions and powers conferred on Commonwealth officers\nand authorities\n(1) A Commonwealth administrative law applying because of\nsection 14 that confers on a Commonwealth officer or authority a\nfunction or power also confers on the officer or authority the same\nfunction or power in relation to a matter arising in relation to the\napplied provisions.\n\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional matters\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 7\n(2) In performing a function or exercising a power conferred by this\nsection, the Commonwealth officer or authority must act as nearly\nas practicable as the officer or authority would act in performing or\nexercising the same function or power under the Commonwealth\nadministrative law.\nPart 6 Miscellaneous matters\n16 Things done for multiple purposes\nThe validity of a licence, certificate or other thing issued, given or\ndone for the purposes of the applied provisions is not affected only\nbecause it was issued, given or done also for the purposes of the\nCommonwealth water efficiency laws.\n17 Reference in Commonwealth law to a provision of another law\nFor the purposes of sections 11 and 14, a reference in a\nCommonwealth law to a provision of that or another\nCommonwealth law is taken to be a reference to that provision as\napplying because of those sections.\n18 Fees and other money\nAll fees, penalties, fines and other money that, under this Act and\nthe applied provisions, are authorised or directed to be payable by\nor imposed on any person (but not including an amount ordered to\nbe refunded to another person) must be paid to the\nCommonwealth.\n19 Regulations of Territory\nThe Administrator may make regulations under this Act.\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional matters\n20 Act repealed\nThe Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2006 (Act No. 30\nof 2006) is repealed.\n21 Transitional matters for Water Efficiency Labelling and\nStandards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014\n(1) On the commencement date, anything that was in effect in relation\nto the former law immediately before the commencement date\nbecomes a thing with the same effect in relation to this Act and the\napplied provisions.\n\nPart 7 Repeal and transitional matters\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 8\n(2) In this section:\ncommencement date means the date on which section 5\ncommences.\nformer law means the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards\nAct as in force before its repeal by section 20.\n\nENDNOTES\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 9\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nWater Efficiency Labelling and Standards (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2014 (Act\nNo. 21, 2014)\nAssent date 2 June 2014\nCommenced 2 June 2014\nStatute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2026 (Act No. 3, 2026)\nAssent date 9 February 2026\nCommenced 10 February 2026 (s 2)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: s 7.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 3 amd No. 3, 2026, s 63","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original purpose as 'national uniform legislation'—a mechanism for the Northern Territory to adopt the Commonwealth WELS scheme. The 2026 amendment (Statute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2026) updated the reference from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 to the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, reflecting machinery of government changes rather than substantive expansion. The Act remains a technical vehicle for harmonisation without drifting into broader policy areas."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on external legislation: The Act is essentially a 'shell' that imports the Commonwealth Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 and associated regulations, meaning the full legal framework is not contained in this document.","Complex application mechanisms: Sections 5-7 involve sophisticated statutory techniques for applying Commonwealth laws as Territory law with modifications, requiring readers to cross-reference multiple jurisdictions.","Dual criminal jurisdiction provisions: Part 4 creates a fiction where Territory offences are treated as Commonwealth offences for procedural purposes (sections 10-13), involving complex interactions between Territory and Commonwealth criminal law.","Administrative law overlay: Part 5 applies Commonwealth administrative review laws (Administrative Review Tribunal Act, Freedom of Information Act, etc.) to Territory matters, creating a layered regulatory framework.","Transitional provisions: Section 21 preserves existing rights and instruments from the repealed 2006 Act, requiring historical knowledge to fully understand current obligations.","Defined terms with external references: Section 3 contains 8 defined terms, several of which refer to entire Commonwealth Acts or classes of instruments (regulations, guidelines, codes of practice).","Crown binding provisions with constitutional limitations: Section 4 attempts to bind the Crown 'in all its other capacities' but qualifies this with 'to the extent the legislative power of the Legislative Assembly permits,' introducing constitutional uncertainty."],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **Northern Territory law** that adopts a national scheme for water efficiency labelling and standards (known as **WELS**). Think of those star-rating stickers on your washing machine or showerhead that tell you how much water they use—this law makes those rules apply in the NT.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Adopts Commonwealth law**: Instead of writing its own rules from scratch, the NT 'borrows' the federal Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 and applies it as if it were Territory law.\n- **Single national regulator**: The Commonwealth WELS Regulator (a federal official) enforces these rules in the NT, so businesses and consumers deal with one consistent system across Australia.\n- **Criminal and administrative procedures**: If someone breaks these rules in the NT, they're dealt with using federal criminal procedures (investigation, prosecution, sentencing) and can appeal to federal administrative bodies like the Administrative Review Tribunal.\n- **Money goes to Canberra**: Any fines or fees collected under this law go to the Commonwealth, not the NT Government.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Manufacturers and suppliers** of water-using products (toilets, taps, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) who must register products and display water efficiency labels.\n- **Consumers** who rely on consistent water efficiency information when buying appliances.\n- **Retailers** who must ensure products they sell comply with labelling requirements.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this law, the NT would have no water efficiency labelling scheme, or would need to create its own incompatible system. This 'mirror legislation' ensures the Territory participates in a nationwide program to conserve water and help consumers make informed choices, while keeping compliance costs low for businesses operating across state borders."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Act implements a narrow, functional purpose: adopting the Commonwealth WELS framework as Territory law and enabling Commonwealth administration (s 2, s 5). The reprint notes minor formal amendments (endnotes) and a repeal of the prior Territory WELS Act (ss 20–21), but there is no indication in the text that the Act has expanded beyond that original purpose. The Act does give the Territory regulation-making power to modify application (s 6), which could change scope in practice if exercised, but the statute as enacted maintains the original objective of national uniformity rather than materially broadening substantive coverage."},"complexity_factors":["7 defined terms in the interpretation section (s 3): applied provisions; Commonwealth administrative laws; Commonwealth Regulator; Commonwealth water efficiency laws; function; modify; offence","Cross-references to multiple Commonwealth Acts (at least 8): Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (Cth); Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth); Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth); Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth); Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth); Privacy Act 1988 (Cth); Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth); Interpretation Act 1978","Regulatory modification power with a specific conditional rule allowing disapplication of particular Commonwealth amendments (s 6(2)) — creates conditional divergence logic","Applied provisions are treated as Commonwealth law for both criminal and administrative processes, subject to exceptions by regulation (ss 11(3), 14(3)) — two parallel regimes mapped onto each other","Delegation carry-over provision (s 9) and multiple function/power restatements (ss 8, 12, 15) that require reading across Commonwealth law and this Act","A specific limitation removing any purported conferral of federal court jurisdiction by Commonwealth administrative laws applied here (s 14(4)) — a non-obvious carve-out","Transitional and repeal rules that preserve existing instruments on commencement (ss 20–21) — practical but requires checking legacy instruments"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act makes the Commonwealth Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) regime the law in the Northern Territory, so Commonwealth WELS rules, regulator powers, officers, enforcement processes and administrative law procedures apply there. Businesses that make, import, supply or sell WELS‑covered products in the Territory must follow Commonwealth rules and processes.\n\nThat centralises regulation and revenue (fees/fines go to the Commonwealth), trading uniformity nationwide but reduces Territory control and shifts enforcement and review to Commonwealth systems."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014","history":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-efficiency-labelling-and-standards-national-uniform-legislation-act-2014/documents"}}