Against a background of continuing issues related to overclaiming within the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme, the Lighting Council Australia has reported that Australian regulators intend to focus on non-compliance with required regulations when lighting equipment is placed onto the market.

The lighting body has written to all state and territory ministers responsible for electrical safety in Australia, with the responses received highlighting that product compliance with standards and regulations is a priority for electrical safety regulators.

Ministerial offices have responded that the government is committed to eliminating the risk of harm to the community due to non-compliant lighting equipment and will act on complaints notified by Lighting Council Australia and other parties.

Additionally, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently announced that in 2022 and 2023 it will focus on tackling the online supply of suspicious non-compliant devices that have the potential to cause harm to the Australian community. ACMA has seen a rise in the number of complaints about non-compliant devices advertised or bought online. As well as focusing on supplier compliance, ACMA will educate Australians about the risks of buying radiocommunication devices online.

compliance, email dcrossley@lightingcouncil.com.au.

Despite Lighting Council Australia reporting over the previous six years that significant rorting of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) scheme was occurring in the lighting upgrades market, problems continue in that market, the lighting body said. The Victorian energy regulator recently suspended Australian State Energy Upgrades (ASEU) from participating as an accredited person in the VEU scheme due to alleged breaches such as falsely overclaiming the number and type of lights installed before an upgrade.