Bruno Altin Pty Limited

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Speakers - Cruickshank Mr Adrian
Business - Private Members Statements

BRUNO ALTIN PTY LIMITED

Mr CRUICKSHANK (Murrumbidgee) [5.54]: I wish to speak about the effect of regulations in the Murrumbidgee electorate, though in doing so I do not speak as Chairman of the Regulation Review Committee. I was approached by Mr Gino Altin of Bruno Altin Pty Limited, septic tank manufacturers of Griffith. He expressed concern about the adverse impact of regulations on his business. I wish to bring this matter before the House because I believe any fair-minded person would have to agree that regulations are affecting areas they should not be, as instanced by the experience of Mr Altin. Responsibility for overseeing manufacturing requirements for septic tanks - now termed waste treatment devices - is administered by several organisations and statutory bodies under part 3 of the Local Government Act Local Government (Approvals) Regulation 1993, and the Local Government Act Local Government (Water, Sewerage and Drainage) Regulation 1993, and codes embraced within those regulations.

The Department of Health approves the appliance provisions and sets the manufacturing standards under clause 75. Since the regulation was enacted the Department of Health, for health reasons, has set a minimum capacity for septic tanks of 2,050 litres. From the time Mr Bruno Altin came to Australia in 1950 he has been manufacturing 1,700 litre septic tanks and has never had a complaint about them. Now he has to manufacture 2,050 litre tanks. In addition, the manufacturer's products are subjected to testing. The cost of testing has to be met by the manufacturer. Mr Altin said to me, "I have a computer-controlled cement batching machine. The only way it can muck up the mix is by running out of product". That does not happen: without product it does not go. What is required is punched in, and from that point the human hand does not touch the mix from which septic tanks are made. There is the initial test before approval to use the mark can be given, and later there are random tests for continuing use of the mark. The Australian Bureau of Standards returns and tests randomly at the manufacturer's expense.

The local council has the responsibility of approving the individual installations. The regulation provides for some discretion on the part of the council although the provisions in this regard are rather vague. Their area of responsibility does not embrace the size of the tank, under clause 75, and connection, under clause 76 and AS 3500 - a code adopted by a regulation. The manufacturing standard is not directly embraced by any clause but in the absence of clear definition the relevant Australian standard is referenced for comfort. Naturally, the manufacturer complies. However, the major manufacturing adjustment, that is, relating to size and manufacturing specifications, since the introduction of the local government approvals regulation, is notable. So far as the manufacturers are concerned, the needs of each respective authority are essential before delivery.

What concerns Mr Altin is that as time goes by more and more regulations which have seriously impacted on his business are coming into force. The substantial cost increases and additional administration lower the efficiency of his business. He had a lady working for him doing administrative work three hours per week for 25 employees. That same lady is now working five days a week filling in government forms and carrying out all the extracurricular activities which are being put upon the business by various government departments. Costs are rising with the regulations. Changes to the regulations which affect his line of business have cost him $11,000. Who pays for that? The Department of Health took the opportunity on the introduction of the local government approvals regulation to revise health requirements affecting septic tanks.

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The department decided that the minimum size tank should be of a 2,050 litre capacity. The firm had been making 1,700 litre capacity tanks for 20 years, but to change to manufacturing 2,050 litre tanks required $10,000 worth of new moulds and the other ones had to be discarded. A licence is required. Now that the Department of Health has moved in, this man needs a licence to manufacture his septic tanks. He has never had a licence since he commenced his business in 1950, but now there will be a $1,000 fee payable to the Department of Health. I am not citing anyone in particular, but unless governments are prepared to face up to these sorts of problems small businesses will continue to go under. I must impress upon members that it is the responsibility of Ministers and heads of departments to ensure commonsense regulations are imposed on people, not mandatory regulations from bureaucrats.

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