{"id":"water-services-coordination-act-1995","name":"Water Services Coordination Act 1995","slug":"water-services-coordination-act-1995","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":111067,"registerId":"wa-water-services-coordination-act-1995-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Water Services Coordination Act 1995","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nPlumbers Licensing Act 1995\n\nWestern Australia\n\nPlumbers Licensing Act 1995\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Terms used 2\n\nPart 5A — Licensing of plumbers and related matters\n\nDivision 1 — Plumbers Licensing Board\n\n59. Board established 3\n\n59A. Membership 3\n\n59B. Functions 3\n\n59C. Powers 4\n\n59D. Delegation by Board 4\n\n59E. Minister may give Board directions 4\n\n59F. Minister to have access to information 5\n\n59G. Use by Board of government staff etc. 7\n\n59H. *Financial Management Act 2006*, application of 7\n\nDivision 2 — Regulations\n\n59I. Terms used 8\n\n59J. Regulations; Building Services Account to be credited with certain fees 8\n\n59K. Offences, regulations may create etc. 9\n\n59L. Other laws, codes etc., regulations may adopt 9\n\nPart 6 — General\n\n60A. Protection from liability 11\n\n60B. Disclosure etc., certain information restricted 11\n\n61. Regulations 12\n\n62. Review of Act 12\n\nSchedule 3 — Purposes for which, or matters about which, regulations may be made\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 16\n\nOther notes 18\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nPlumbers Licensing Act 1995\n\nAn Act to establish a Board with functions related to the licensing of plumbers, to provide for regulation making powers in respect of the Board, licensing matters and the carrying out of plumbing work and to make related provisions.\n\n[Long title amended: No. 39 of 1999 s. 4; No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 89; No. 25 of 2012 s. 192.]\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Plumbers Licensing Act 1995*.\n\n[Section 1 amended: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 90; No. 25 of 2012 s. 193.]\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation on the day on which Part 2 of the *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* comes into operation, that is, on the day fixed by proclamation made under section 2(2) of that Act.\n\n##### 3. Terms used\n\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\nBoard means the Plumbers Licensing Board established by section 59;\n\ndepartment means the department of the Public Service principally assisting the Minister in the administration of this Act;\n\nplumber means a person who carries out plumbing work as defined in section 59I.\n\n[Section 3 amended: No. 39 of 1999 s. 5; No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 91; No. 25 of 2005 s. 64; No. 25 of 2012 s. 194.]\n\n[Part 2: s. 4 deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 195;  \ns. 5‑9 deleted: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 92.]\n\n[Part 3: s. 10‑42, 44‑46M deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 195;  \ns. 43 deleted: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 103.]\n\n[Part 4 (s. 47‑55) deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 195.]\n\n[Part 5 (s. 56‑58) deleted: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 107.]\n\n## Part 5A — Licensing of plumbers and related matters\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n### Division 1 — Plumbers Licensing Board\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59. Board established\n\nA board called the Plumbers Licensing Board is established.\n\n[Section 59 inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59A. Membership\n\nThe Board consists of not more than 9 members appointed by the Minister in accordance with the regulations.\n\n[Section 59A inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59B. Functions\n\n(1) The functions of the Board are —\n\n(a) to monitor matters relating to the qualification and training of plumbers, and to provide advice on those matters to the Minister and, with the approval of the Minister, to any other person or body concerned with those matters; and\n\n(b) to advise the Minister on matters relating to the licensing and regulation of plumbers; and\n\n(c) to administer any licensing scheme provided for by the regulations; and\n\n(d) to perform licensing, disciplinary and other functions given to it by the regulations.\n\n(2) It is also a function of the Board to do things that it is authorised to do by any other written law.\n\n[Section 59B inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7; amended: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 108.]\n\n##### 59C. Powers\n\nThe Board has all the powers it needs to perform its functions under this Act or any other written law.\n\n[Section 59C inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59D. Delegation by Board\n\n(1) The Board may, by instrument, delegate the performance of any of its functions, except this power of delegation and any disciplinary power conferred by the regulations or another written law.\n\n(2) A delegation under subsection (1) may be made to —\n\n(a) a member of the Board; or\n\n(b) any committee established under the regulations; or\n\n(c) with the approval of the Minister, any other person.\n\n(3) A function performed by a delegate is to be taken to be performed by the Board.\n\n(4) A delegate performing a function under this section is to be taken to do so in accordance with the terms of the delegation unless the contrary is shown.\n\n[Section 59D inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59E. Minister may give Board directions\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may give directions in writing to the Board with respect to the performance of its functions, either generally or in relation to a particular matter, and the Board is to give effect to any such direction.\n\n(2) The Minister must not under subsection (1) direct the Board with respect to the performance of its licensing or disciplinary functions, whether under this Act or any other written law, in respect of —\n\n(a) a particular person; or\n\n(b) a particular application, complaint or proceeding.\n\n(3) The Minister must, within 14 days after a direction is given under subsection (1), cause a copy of it to be laid before each House of Parliament or dealt with in accordance with subsection (4).\n\n(4) If —\n\n(a) at the commencement of the period referred to in subsection (3) a House of Parliament is not sitting; and\n\n(b) the Minister is of the opinion that that House will not sit during that period,\n\nthe Minister is to transmit a copy of the direction to the Clerk of that House.\n\n(5) A copy of a direction transmitted to the Clerk of a House is taken to have been laid before that House.\n\n(6) The laying of a copy of a direction that is taken to have occurred under subsection (5) is to be recorded in the Minutes, or Votes and Proceedings, of the House on the first sitting day of the House after the receipt of the copy by the Clerk.\n\n(7) The text of a direction given under subsection (1) is to be included in the annual report submitted by the accountable authority of the department under Part 5 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*.\n\n[Section 59E inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7; amended: No. 5 of 2005 s. 46; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 178(1); No. 8 of 2009 s. 133(4) and (5).]\n\n##### 59F. Minister to have access to information\n\n(1) The Minister is entitled —\n\n(a) to have information in the possession of the Board; and\n\n(b) if the information is in or on a document, to have, and make and retain copies of, that document.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the Minister may —\n\n(a) request the Board to furnish information to the Minister; and\n\n(b) request the Board to give the Minister access to information; and\n\n(c) for the purposes of paragraph (b) make use of the staff of the Board to obtain the information and furnish it to the Minister.\n\n(3) The Board is to —\n\n(a) comply with a request under subsection (2); and\n\n(b) make its staff and facilities available to the Minister for the purposes of subsection (2)(c).\n\n(4) The Minister is not entitled to have information under this section in a form that —\n\n(a) discloses the identity of a person involved in a complaint; or\n\n(b) might enable the identity of any such person to be ascertained,\n\nunless that person has consented to the disclosure.\n\n(5) In this section —\n\ndocument includes any tape, disc or other device or medium on which information is recorded or stored mechanically, photographically, electronically or otherwise;\n\ninformation means information specified, or of a description specified, by the Minister that relates to the functions of the Board;\n\nstaff means any person whose services are the subject of an arrangement under section 59G(1).\n\n[Section 59F inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59G. Use by Board of government staff etc.\n\n(1) The Board may by arrangement with the relevant employer make use, either full‑time or part‑time, of the services of any officer or employee —\n\n(a) in the Public Service; or\n\n(b) in a State agency or instrumentality.\n\n(2) The Board may by arrangement with —\n\n(a) a department of the Public Service; or\n\n(b) a State agency or instrumentality,\n\nmake use of any facilities of the department, agency or instrumentality.\n\n(3) An arrangement under subsection (1) or (2) is to be on the terms agreed to by the parties.\n\n[Section 59G inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59H. *Financial Management Act 2006*, application of\n\n(1) Any acts or things done by the Board under this Act or any other written law are to be regarded —\n\n(a) as services under the control of the department of the Public Service principally assisting the Minister in the administration of this Part for the purposes of section 52 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*; and\n\n(b) part of the operations of that department for the purposes of Part 5 of that Act.\n\n(2) The department’s annual report is to include details of —\n\n(a) the number, nature, and outcome, of —\n\n(i) investigations and inquiries undertaken by, or at the direction of, the Board into licensing under this Act; and\n\n(ii) matters that have been brought before the State Administrative Tribunal under this Act;\n\nand\n\n(b) the number and nature of matters referred to in paragraph (a) that are outstanding; and\n\n(c) any trends or special problems that may have emerged; and\n\n(d) forecasts of the workload of the Board in the year after the year to which the report relates; and\n\n(e) any proposals for improving the operation of the Board.\n\n[Section 59H inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7; amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 1303; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 178(2); No. 16 of 2011 s. 130(2).]\n\n### Division 2 — Regulations\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59I. Terms used\n\nIn this Division and in Schedule 3 —\n\nplumbing work means work of a kind specified to be water supply plumbing, sanitary plumbing or drainage plumbing;\n\nspecified means specified in the regulations.\n\n[Section 59I inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59J. Regulations; Building Services Account to be credited with certain fees\n\n(1) Regulations may be made under section 61 for all or any of the purposes, or about all or any of the matters, set out in Schedule 3.\n\n(2) The Building Services Account is to be credited with fees paid or recovered under regulations referred to in subsection (1).\n\n(3) In subsection (2) —\n\nBuilding Services Account means the account referred to in the *Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011* section 92(1).\n\n[Section 59J inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7; amended: No. 16 of 2011 s. 130(3) and (4).]\n\n##### 59K. Offences, regulations may create etc.\n\nRegulations referred to in section 59J may —\n\n(a) create offences and provide, in respect of an offence so created, for the imposition of a fine not exceeding $5 000; and\n\n(b) establish a scheme for the giving of infringement notices in respect of specified offences against the regulations, prescribe modified penalties for such offences and provide for the appointment of persons to give infringement notices and administer that scheme.\n\n[Section 59K inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7.]\n\n##### 59L. Other laws, codes etc., regulations may adopt\n\n(1) Regulations referred to in section 59J may adopt, either wholly or in part or with modifications —\n\n(a) any rules, regulations, codes, or other subsidiary legislation made, determined or issued under any other Act or under any Commonwealth Act; or\n\n(b) any of the standards, rules, codes or specifications of Standards Australia or a similar specified body.\n\n(2) If any subsidiary legislation, standard, rule, code or specification is adopted under subsection (1), it is adopted as in force from time to time unless the regulations specify that a particular text is adopted.\n\n[Section 59L inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 7; amended: No. 74 of 2003 s. 128.]\n\n## Part 6 — General\n\n[**60.** Deleted: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 109.]\n\n##### 60A. Protection from liability\n\n(1) An action in tort does not lie against a person for anything that the person has done, in good faith, in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act.\n\n[(1a) deleted]\n\n(2) The Board and the Crown are also relieved of any liability that either of them might otherwise have had for another person having done anything as described in subsection (1).\n\n(3) The protection given by this section applies even though the thing done as described in subsection (1) may have been capable of being done whether or not this Act had been enacted.\n\n(4) In this section, a reference to the doing of anything includes a reference to an omission to do anything.\n\n[Section 60A inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 8; amended: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 110; No. 14 of 2025 s. 31(2).]\n\n##### 60B. Disclosure etc., certain information restricted\n\n(1) This section applies to a person —\n\n(a) who has been the Coordinator of Water Services under this Act; or\n\n(b) who is or has been a member of the Board; or\n\n(c) who is or has been a person performing functions under this Act.\n\n(2) A person to whom this section applies must not, directly or indirectly, record, disclose or make use of any information obtained in the course of duty except —\n\n(a) for the purpose of performing functions under this Act; or\n\n(b) as required or allowed by this Act or under another written law; or\n\n(c) with the written consent of the person to whom the information relates; or\n\n(d) in other prescribed circumstances.\n\nPenalty: $5 000.\n\n(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to the disclosure of any summary or statistical information that could not reasonably be expected to enable particulars relating to any person or business to be ascertained.\n\n[Section 60B inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 8; amended: No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 111.]\n\n[**60C.** Deleted: No. 14 of 2025 s. 31(3).]\n\n##### 61. Regulations\n\nThe Governor may make any regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.\n\n##### 62. Review of Act\n\n(1) The Minister is to carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act as soon as is practicable after every 5th anniversary of the commencement of the *Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2012* section 191.\n\n(2) In the course of that review the Minister is to consider and have regard to —\n\n[(a), (b) deleted]\n\n(ba) the effectiveness of the operations of the Board; and\n\n(bb) the need for the continuation of the functions of the Board; and\n\n(c) any other matters that appear to the Minister to be relevant to the operation and effectiveness of this Act.\n\n(3) The Minister is to prepare a report based on the review and, as soon as is practicable after the report is prepared, is to cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament.\n\n[Section 62 amended: No. 39 of 1999 s. 9; No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 112; No. 25 of 2012 s. 196.]\n\n[Schedules 1 and 2 deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 197.]\n\nSchedule 3 — Purposes for which, or matters about which, regulations may be made\n\n[s. 59J]\n\n1. The membership of the Board and the manner in which the membership is to be determined.\n\n2. The appointment of a chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Board.\n\n3. The term of office of members of the Board and the circumstances in which a member of the Board may be removed from office.\n\n4. The appointment of alternate members of the Board.\n\n5. The constitution and proceedings of the Board.\n\n6. The remuneration of members of the Board and members of any committee established by the Board.\n\n7. To permit the Board to establish committees for supervisory, regulatory, or other purposes and to provide for the constitution, practice and procedure of any such committee.\n\n8. The licensing of plumbers, including, without limitation —\n\n(a) the persons who may hold a licence; and\n\n(b) classes of licence and the plumbing work that may be carried out under the authority of a licence of a particular class; and\n\n(c) the qualifications, level of experience or competency requirements necessary for the grant of a licence of a particular class; and\n\n(d) the matters of which the Board must be satisfied before granting a licence of a particular class; and\n\n(e) the issue, duration, renewal, suspension or cancellation of licences; and\n\n(f) the imposition of conditions or restrictions on licences; and\n\n(g) the keeping of a register of specified information in respect of licences and matters relating to the amendment and accuracy of the register; and\n\n(h) the manner of making a complaint against or concerning a person who is or was the holder of a licence, and who may make such a complaint; and\n\n(i) disciplinary matters and the regulation of the practice and procedure to be followed in the investigation of disciplinary matters; and\n\n(j) the conferral on the State Administrative Tribunal of jurisdiction to deal with disciplinary matters and the orders that may be made following the hearing and determination of disciplinary matters, which may include orders imposing disciplinary penalties; and\n\n(k) the conferral on the State Administrative Tribunal of jurisdiction to deal with applications for the review of decisions of the Board or any committee established by the Board; and\n\n *[(l) deleted]*\n\n(m) the publication in specified circumstances of information relating to the cancellation or suspension of a licence, and the manner of such publication; and\n\n(n) the manner in which holders of licences may advertise, display or otherwise publicise the fact that they carry out plumbing work; and\n\n(o) matters of a savings or transitional nature.\n\n9. The prohibition of persons other than holders of licences from carrying out plumbing work.\n\n10. The regulation and control of plumbing work.\n\n11. Standards to be observed in, or in connection with, the carrying out of plumbing work.\n\n12. The appointment or authorisation of persons to inspect plumbing work and investigate complaints in respect of plumbing work, and their powers, including powers of entry, for the purposes of such inspection or investigation.\n\n13.  Fees to be paid for or in connection with matters provided for in the regulations, other than for bringing matters before the State Administrative Tribunal, and the persons liable to pay those fees.\n\n[Schedule 3 inserted: No. 39 of 1999 s. 10; amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 1304.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Plumbers Licensing Act 1995* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Water Services Coordination Act 1995* 1 | 72 of 1995 | 27 Dec 1995 | 1 Jan 1996 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 29 Dec 1995 p. 6291) |\n| *Taxes and Charges (Land Subdivision) Legislation Amendment Act 1996* Pt. 5 2 | 12 of 1996 | 28 Jun 1996 | 28 Jun 1996 (see s. 2) |\n| *Water Legislation Amendment Act 1997* Pt. 6 | 32 of 1997 | 3 Oct 1997 | 15 Apr 1998 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 15 Apr 1998 p. 2041) |\n| *Water Services Coordination Amendment Act 1997* | 33 of 1997 | 3 Oct 1997 | 3 Oct 1997 (see s. 2) |\n| *Water Services Coordination Amendment Act 1999* | 39 of 1999 | 9 Nov 1999 | s. 1 and 2: 9 Nov 1999;   Act other than s. 1 and 2: 19 Jun 2000 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 16 Jun 2000 p. 2939) |\n| *Gas Corporation (Business Disposal) Act 1999* s. 87 | 58 of 1999 | 24 Dec 1999 | 1 Jul 2000 (see s. 2(2) and *Gazette* 4 Jul 2000 p. 3545) |\n| **Reprint of the *Water Services Coordination Act 1995* as at 28 Jul 2000** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001* s. 220 | 10 of 2001 | 28 Jun 2001 | 15 Jul 2001 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 29 Jun 2001 p. 3257 and Cwlth *Gazette* 13 Jul 2001 No. S285) |\n| *Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003* Sch. 2 Div. 18 3 | 67 of 2003 | 5 Dec 2003 | 1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Dec 2003 p. 5723) |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2003* s. 128 | 74 of 2003 | 15 Dec 2003 | 15 Dec 2003 (see s. 2) |\n| *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 2 Div. 133 4, 5 | 55 of 2004 | 24 Nov 2004 | 1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) |\n| *Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 2005* s. 46 | 5 of 2005 | 27 Jun 2005 | 1 Jan 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 23 Dec 2005 p. 6243) |\n| *Water Legislation Amendment (Competition Policy) Act 2005* s. 7(4), 28(2), 60(2) and Pt. 8 | 25 of 2005 | 12 Dec 2005 | 3 Jun 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 2 Jun 2006 p. 1985) |\n| *Planning and Development (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005* s. 15 | 38 of 2005 | 12 Dec 2005 | 9 Apr 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 21 Mar 2006 p. 1078) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Water Services Licensing Act 1995* as at 4 Aug 2006** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006* Sch. 1 cl. 178 | 77 of 2006 | 21 Dec 2006 | 1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 19 Jan 2007 p. 137) |\n| *Duties Legislation Amendment Act 2008* Sch. 1 cl. 40 | 12 of 2008 | 14 Apr 2008 | 1 Jul 2008 (see s. 2(d)) |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009* s. 133 | 8 of 2009 | 21 May 2009 | 22 May 2009 (see s. 2(b)) |\n| *Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010* s. 4 | 19 of 2010 | 28 Jun 2010 | 11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) |\n| *Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011* s. 130 | 16 of 2011 | 25 May 2011 | 29 Aug 2011 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 26 Aug 2011 p. 3475) |\n| *Personal Property Securities (Consequential Repeals and Amendments) Act 2011* Pt. 13 Div. 4 | 42 of 2011 | 4 Oct 2011 | 30 Jan 2012 (see s. 2(c) and Cwlth Legislative Instrument No. F2011L02397 cl. 5 registered 21 Nov 2011) |\n| **Reprint 3: The *Water Services Licensing Act 1995* as at 6 Jul 2012** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2012* Pt. 8 | 25 of 2012 | 3 Sep 2012 | 18 Nov 2013 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 14 Nov 2013 p. 5028) |\n| **Reprint 4: The *Plumbers Licensing Act 1995* as at 24 Jan 2014** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2025* s. 31 | 14 of 2025 | 25 Sep 2025 | 26 Sep 2025 (see s. 2(b)) |\n\n\nOther notes\n\n1 Short title was initially the *Water Services Coordination Act 1995* and was subsequently changed to the *Water Services Licensing Act 1995*, and now known as the *Plumbers Licensing Act 1995* (see note under s. 1).\n\n2 The *Taxes and Charges (Land Subdivision) Legislation Amendment Act 1996* Pt. 6 is a review provision that is of no further effect.\n\n3 The *Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003* s. 63(1), which gives effect to Sch. 3, reads as follows:\n\n63. Transitional and saving provisions\n\n(1) Schedule 3 has effect to make transitional and saving provisions in respect of the amendments made in Schedule 2 Divisions 8, 12 and 18.\n\nSchedule 3 reads as follows:\n\nSchedule 3 — Transitional and saving provisions for amendments in Schedule 2 Divisions 8, 12 and 18\n\n[s. 63(1)]\n\n1. Definitions\n\nIn this Schedule —\n\ncommencement day means the day on which this Schedule comes into operation;\n\n  former official means —\n\n(a) the Coordinator of Water Services referred to in section 4 of the *Water Services Coordination Act 1995* as in effect immediately before the commencement day;\n\n(b) the Gas Pipelines Access Regulator; or\n\n(c) the Rail Access Regulator;\n\n  Gas Pipelines Access Regulator means the Western Australian Independent Gas Pipelines Access Regulator referred to in section 27 of the *Gas Pipelines Access (Western Australia) Act 1998* as in effect immediately before the commencement day;\n\n  Rail Access Regulator means the Western Australian Independent Rail Access Regulator referred to in section 13 of the *Railways (Access) Act 1998* as in effect immediately before the commencement day.\n\n2. *Interpretation Act 1984* to apply\n\nThis Schedule does not limit the operation of the *Interpretation Act 1984*.\n\n3. Decisions of Gas Pipelines Access Regulator\n\nWithout limiting the operation of clause 6, a decision made by the Gas Pipelines Access Regulator as the local Regulator for the purposes of the Gas Pipelines Access (Western Australia) Law that was in effect immediately before the commencement day continues, on and after that day, as if made by the Authority as the local Regulator for the purposes of that Law.\n\n4. Decisions of Rail Access Regulator\n\nWithout limiting the operation of clause 6, a decision made by the Rail Access Regulator as the Regulator for the purposes of the Code (as defined in the *Railways (Access) Act 1998*) that was in effect immediately before the commencement day continues, on and after that day, as if made by the Authority as the Regulator for the purposes of that Code.\n\n5. Licences under Part 3 of the *Water Services Coordination Act 1995*\n\nWithout limiting the operation of clause 6, an operating licence that was in effect under Part 3 of the *Water Services Coordination Act 1995* immediately before the commencement day continues, on and after that day, as an operating licence in effect under that Part as amended by Schedule 2 Division 18.\n\n6. Continuing effect of things done\n\nOn and after the commencement day any act, matter or thing done or omitted to be done before that day by, to, or in respect of, a former official (to the extent that that act, matter or thing has any force or effect) is to be taken to have been done or omitted by, to, or in respect of, the Authority.\n\n7. Completion of things begun\n\nOn and after the commencement day anything lawfully commenced by a former official may, so far as it is not contrary to this Act or any other written law that gives functions to the Authority, be carried on and completed by the Authority.\n\n8. Proceedings etc.\n\nAny proceedings or remedy that immediately before the commencement day might have been brought or continued by or available against or to a former official, may, on and after that day, be brought or continued and are available, by or against or to the Authority.\n\n9. Records\n\nOn and after the commencement day the Authority is to take delivery of all papers, documents, minutes, books of account and other records (however compiled, recorded or stored) relating to the operations of each former official.\n\n10. Bank accounts\n\n(1) The moneys standing to the credit of the account referred to in section 45 of the *Gas Pipelines Access (Western Australia) Act 1998* immediately before the commencement day are to be transferred to the account referred to in section 21 as soon as is practicable after that day.\n\n(2) The moneys standing to the credit of the account referred to in section 23D of the *Railways (Access) Act 1998* immediately before the commencement day are to be transferred to the account referred to in section 21 as soon as is practicable after that day.\n\n11. References to former official in agreements and instruments\n\nAny agreement or instrument subsisting immediately before the commencement day —\n\n(a) to which a former official is a party; or\n\n(b) which contains a reference to a former official,\n\nhas effect after the commencement day as if —\n\n(c) the Authority were substituted for the former official as a party to the agreement or instrument; and\n\n(d) any reference in the agreement or instrument to the former official were (unless the context otherwise requires) amended to be or include a reference to the Authority.\n\n12. References to former official in written law\n\nA reference to a former official in an enactment in force immediately before the commencement day may, where the context so requires, be read as if it had been amended to be a reference to the Authority.\n\n13. Immunity to continue\n\nDespite the amendments made in Schedule 2 Divisions 8, 12 and 18, where a former official had the benefit of any immunity in respect of an act, matter or thing done or omitted before the commencement day, that immunity continues in that respect for the benefit of the Authority.\n\n14. Saving\n\nThe operation of any provision of this Schedule is not to be regarded —\n\n(a) as a breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong;\n\n(b) as a breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the assignment or transfer of assets, rights or liabilities of the disclosure of information;\n\n(c) as giving rise to any remedy by a party to an instrument or as causing or permitting the termination of any instrument, because of a change in the beneficial or legal ownership of any asset, right or liability;\n\n(d) as causing any contract or instrument to be void or otherwise unenforceable; or\n\n(e) as releasing or allowing the release of any surety.\n\n4 The *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 5, the *State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004* s. 167 and 169, and the *State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004* r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.\n\n5 The amendment to s. 57 in the *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* s. 1302 is not included because the section it seeks to amend was deleted by the *Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003* Sch. 2 cl. 107.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nBoard 3\n\nBuilding Services Account 59J(3)\n\ndepartment 3\n\ndocument 59F(5)\n\ninformation 59F(5)\n\nplumber 3\n\nplumbing work 59I\n\nspecified 59I\n\nstaff 59F(5)\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as no legislative content was available for analysis. The source material is a broken webpage error notice, not the text of the Act itself."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was provided — only a webpage error message","Cannot assess complexity without access to the actual Act's provisions","Title alone suggests the Act would likely involve regulatory licensing frameworks, which are typically moderately to highly complex, but this cannot be confirmed"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ Content Unavailable\n\nThe source provided does not contain the actual text of the **Water Services Coordination Act 1995 (WA)**. The page returned is an error notice from the Western Australian legislation website indicating the URL is no longer available due to system upgrades.\n\n**What we can say from the title alone:**\nThe Water Services Coordination Act 1995 is a Western Australian law that historically governed the licensing and coordination of water service providers (companies or authorities that supply drinking water, wastewater, or drainage services) in WA. It would affect **water utilities, local governments, and residents** who rely on or provide water services.\n\n**To get accurate information**, please:\n- Visit [www.legislation.wa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search for the Act directly\n- Contact the Parliamentary Counsel's Office Helpdesk as suggested on the error page"},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"source":"grok-batch-everything"},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation began life as the Water Services Coordination Act 1995 with a broad focus on water agencies, service coordination and operating licences. Through successive amendments (notably 1999, 2003 and 2012) the majority of those original Parts were deleted, the long title was altered, and the surviving operative provisions now deal almost exclusively with the establishment and functions of the Plumbers Licensing Board and the regulation of plumbing work."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on yet-to-be-made regulations for all substantive licensing, disciplinary, standards and prohibition rules (Schedule 3 lists 13 broad heads of regulation)","Multiple cross-references to external statutes including the Financial Management Act 2006, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 and State Administrative Tribunal legislation","Extensive deletions and renumbering of earlier Parts (Parts 2–5 largely removed by 2003 and 2012 amendments) creating a fragmented legislative structure","Layered ministerial oversight, delegation, information-access and parliamentary-reporting requirements (ss 59E–59H, 59F, 60B)"],"plain_english_summary":"**The Plumbers Licensing Act 1995** sets up a legal framework to regulate who can do plumbing work in Western Australia and to make sure it meets safety standards.\n\nIt creates the **Plumbers Licensing Board** (a group of up to 9 Minister-appointed members) whose job is to advise on plumber training and qualifications, run licensing systems, and handle disciplinary issues. The Board can delegate some tasks but not its core disciplinary powers. The Minister can give the Board general directions (but not on individual licensing or discipline cases) and can access Board information (with privacy protections for complainants).\n\nOnly licensed people may carry out 'plumbing work' (water supply, sanitary or drainage plumbing as defined by regulations). Detailed rules on licences, qualifications, standards, inspections, complaints, advertising, and penalties are left to regulations. These regulations can create offences (fines up to $5,000), adopt external codes or standards, and feed fees into the Building Services Account.\n\nThe Act also protects Board members and others from being sued for good-faith actions and restricts unauthorised sharing of information obtained under the Act (with a $5,000 penalty). It requires a review of the Act every five years.\n\nThis matters because poorly done plumbing can damage water quality, create health risks and cause property damage; the licensing system aims to protect the public by ensuring only competent people do the work."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s scope has narrowed and refocused over time. The instrument was originally part of broader Water Services legislation (earlier short titles and multiple parts), but many earlier Parts and sections have been deleted (see bracketed notes under s.3 indicating deletions of Part 2, Parts 3–5 and other sections). The present text now concentrates on establishing and regulating a Plumbers Licensing Board, licensing and disciplinary frameworks for plumbers, and delegated rule‑making powers (s.59; s.59B; s.61; Schedule 3). The compilation table and notes record several title changes and later amendment and repeal steps that removed other subject-matter from this Act and left the present plumbers‑licensing focus."},"complexity_factors":["Framework statute with most operational detail left to regulations (s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3)","Multiple layers of decision‑making and oversight: Governor (regulations), Minister (appointments and directions), Board (licensing/discipline), and delegations to committees/others (s.59A; s.59E; s.59B; s.59D)","Cross‑statutory financial and reporting links to the Building Services Account and the Financial Management Act (s.59J(2); s.59H)","Ministerial access to Board information with confidentiality carve-outs (s.59F; s.60B)","Delegation rules and exceptions (cannot delegate delegation power or disciplinary powers) which create nuanced limits (s.59D)","Regulatory adoption of external codes or standards and the ‘as in force from time to time’ provision (s.59L(1)–(2))","Enforcement options include criminal offences, fines and infringement notice schemes requiring procedural setup (s.59K)","Interaction with the State Administrative Tribunal for reviews and disciplinary orders (Schedule 3 items 8(j)–(k))","Multiple historic amendments and deletions noted in the compilation and notes, which complicate tracing original vs current provisions (compilation table; notes under s.3)"],"plain_english_summary":"## What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- Establishes a Plumbers Licensing Board to oversee licensing, training and regulation of people who carry out plumbing work (Board established: s.59; functions: s.59B).\n- Gives the Board power to run licensing schemes, handle disciplinary matters and perform other functions set out in regulations (s.59B(1)(c)–(d); s.59C).\n- Allows the Minister to appoint up to 9 Board members under rules in the regulations (s.59A) and to give written directions to the Board about how to perform its functions generally (s.59E). The Minister cannot direct the Board about the licensing or disciplinary treatment of a particular person, application, complaint or proceeding (s.59E(2)).\n- Permits the Board to delegate most of its functions (but not its delegation power or regulatory disciplinary powers) to members, committees or other approved persons (s.59D).\n- Requires the Board to make information available to the Minister on request, subject to limits that protect the identity of complainants (s.59F(1)–(4)).\n- Enables the Board to use government staff and facilities by arrangement (s.59G) and requires Board activity to be treated as part of the administering department for financial reporting and accountability purposes (s.59H).\n- Provides that the Governor may make regulations to give effect to the Act and lists detailed regulatory topics in Schedule 3 (see s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3). Those regulations can: set licence classes and qualifications; require keeping a register; prohibit unlicensed persons from doing plumbing work; set inspection and enforcement powers; create offences and fines (including infringement notice schemes) (Schedule 3 items 8–13; s.59K).\n- Directs fees and charges collected under the regulations to be credited to the Building Services Account (s.59J(2)).\n- Grants legal protection for people acting in good faith under the Act and restricts disclosure of Board-related information by certain officeholders, with a $5,000 penalty for improper disclosure (s.60A; s.60B).\n- Requires the Minister to review the Act every five years and report to Parliament (s.62).\n\n## Who it affects and who pays\n\n- Licensed plumbers and anyone who performs or seeks to perform plumbing work are directly affected by licensing rules, qualifications, conditions, disciplinary processes, and prohibitions on unlicensed practice (Schedule 3 items 8 and 9; s.59I).\n- Applicants and licence-holders will pay fees and possibly penalties established under the regulations; those fees are directed to the Building Services Account (s.59J(2); Schedule 3 item 13). Regulations may also create offences and fines (s.59K).\n- The department that supports the Minister carries administrative and reporting responsibility for Board activities (s.59H).\n\n## Why it matters (official purpose claims and how they operate)\n\n- The long title and s.59B describe the Act’s purpose as creating a specialist Board to monitor training, advise on licensing and administer a licensing scheme for plumbers. That purpose is implemented by delegating detailed rule‑making to regulations (s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3). The primary mechanism is a statutory Board that makes or administers licences under rules made by the Governor.\n\n## Practical effects, incentives and trade-offs\n\n- Implementation relies heavily on regulations. The Act sets a framework (Board, Ministerial oversight, offences, account for fees) while leaving detailed licensing standards, classes, inspection powers and enforcement procedures to subordinate instruments (s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3). That means the practical content and compliance costs for plumbers are mostly determined by regulation.\n\n- Compliance burden: licence conditions, qualifications, register-keeping, inspections and possible disciplinary proceedings create compliance costs for plumbers and applicants (Schedule 3 items 8, 11, 12). Fees payable under regulations are credited to the Building Services Account (s.59J(2)).\n\n- Enforcement and deterrence: regulations may create criminal offences, fines up to $5,000, and infringement notice schemes, which create enforcement costs for regulated persons and administrative costs for enforcement bodies (s.59K).\n\n- Administrative concentration of authority: the Minister appoints Board members (s.59A) and can issue written directions about Board functions (s.59E), subject to explicit limits on directing individual licensing/disciplinary decisions (s.59E(2)). The Minister also has statutory rights to Board information (s.59F). Those provisions locate appointment and some oversight power with the Minister while reserving certain decision-making independence for the Board (s.59E(2)).\n\n- Delegation and delivery model: the Board may delegate most functions to committees or approved persons (s.59D), and it can use public sector staff and facilities by arrangement (s.59G). Financially and operationally, Board activity is treated as part of the administering department (s.59H). That centralises administrative delivery and reporting into the department’s governance and budgets.\n\n- Standards and external conformity: regulations can adopt external codes, standards and subsidiary legislation (s.59L). That creates a mechanism for technical alignment to recognised standards but also means regulatory changes outside this Act (like updates to adopted codes) can change compliance requirements if the regulations adopt standards \"as in force from time to time\" (s.59L(2)).\n\n- Rights of review and adjudication: Schedule 3 contemplates conferring jurisdiction on the State Administrative Tribunal for disciplinary matters and review of Board decisions (Schedule 3 item 8(j)–(k)). That routes some disputes into an independent tribunal process subject to the terms of the regulations.\n\n## Implementation risks and discretion\n\n- Much of the Act’s effect depends on the content and drafting of regulations (s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3). If regulations are delayed, incomplete or frequently changed, that will change timing, cost and certainty for licence-holders.\n- The Board’s capacity depends on appointments, delegation arrangements and departmental support (s.59A; s.59D; s.59G; s.59H). The Act permits use of government staff, which affects operational costs and who controls day-to-day administration (s.59G).\n\n## Who decides and how decisions change behaviour\n\n- Minister: appoints Board members (s.59A), may give written directions about performance of functions generally (s.59E), and may request Board information (s.59F).\n- Board: runs licensing schemes, disciplinary processes and advice to the Minister; may delegate most functions (s.59B; s.59D).\n- Governor (via regulations): sets the detailed regulatory regime, including fees, licence classes, standards, inspection and enforcement provisions (s.61; s.59J; Schedule 3).\n\n## Noted trade-offs and opportunity costs (mechanism-focused)\n\n- The Act concentrates rule‑making power in regulations rather than the primary statute (s.61; Schedule 3), which economises parliamentary time but places the burden of specifying technical detail on delegated instruments.\n- Administrative centralisation (s.59H–59G) saves on creating a separate departmental structure but shifts workload and reporting into the administering department.\n- The restriction on Ministerial direction in individual licensing/disciplinary matters (s.59E(2)) reduces direct ministerial intervention in particular cases while retaining general oversight (s.59E(1), (3)).\n\n(References in parentheses are to specific provisions of the Act.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995","history":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-services-coordination-act-1995/documents"}}