50Powers in relation to consumer piping systems

50 Powers in relation to consumer piping systems (1) This section applies if an inspector believes on reasonable grounds that— (a) a consumer piping system does not comply with the gas safety legislation or is unsafe; or (b) gasfitting work has been done otherwise than in accordance with the gas safety legislation. (2) The inspector may give the occupier of the premises where the consumer piping system is situated a written direction not to use any gas appliance connected to the system until the system is made safe and compliant with the gas safety legislation. (3) The inspector may give the owner of the consumer piping system a written direction to arrange for the system to be isolated or disconnected until the system is made safe and compliant with the gas safety legislation.

Enforcement Part 6 Inspectors’ powers Division 6.2 Section 50 R23 23/02/26 Gas Safety Act 2000 Effective: 23/02/26 page 39 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (4) If the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that a consumer piping system is unsafe because work done or supervised by a gasfitter was not done in accordance with the gas safety legislation, the inspector may give the gasfitter a written direction to take stated action to make the system safe and compliant with the gas safety legislation. (5) A direction under this section may also require the person to give the inspector written information about the consumer piping system. Example a written report about a test required in the direction by the person who did the test (6) Subsection (7) applies if— (a) a written direction under subsection (3) or subsection (4) requires a person to do a thing; and (b) the person— (i) is not licensed, authorised or qualified to do the thing; or (ii) if a licence, authorisation or qualification is not required to do the thing—does not have appropriate experience and skill to do the thing. (7) The person must arrange, and pay for, the thing to be done by someone who— (a) is licensed, authorised or qualified to do the thing; or (b) if a licence, authorisation or qualification is not required to do the thing—has appropriate experience and skill to do the thing. Example A written direction under s (3) requires George to undertake further gasfitting work. George is no longer a licensed gasfitter, and he is not able to get a new licence. George must arrange, and pay for, a licensed gasfitter to do the gasfitting work.

Part 6 Enforcement Division 6.2 Inspectors’ powers Section 51 page 40 Gas Safety Act 2000 Effective: 23/02/26 R23 23/02/26 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (8) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, contravene a direction given to the person under this section. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both.