Gas Supply (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2004

The Gas Supply Act 1996 has been amended to allow the consolidation of regulatory requirements for the safety of gas appliances and gas installations within the Fair Trading portfolio.

As part of the changes, a new regulation, the Gas Supply (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2004, has been developed and commenced on 3 September 2010. For the first time in NSW, the regulatory requirements for gas installations and appliances will be consolidated in one regulation.

The reforms arose out of a review of the regulation of the gas industry in NSW, announced by the Minister for Regulatory Reform on 21 July 2009. The announcement drew strong public support from members of the LPG and autogas industries.

On 3 September 2010, NSW Fair Trading, which already has responsibility for licensing gas tradespeople, including autogas, and regulating the safety of natural gas appliances, became responsible for regulating the safety of most domestic and commercial gas installations and appliances. This will include responsibility for LPG appliances and installations and autogas installations (LPG vehicles).

Note: Appliances and installations located in a workplace and operating at a pressure greater than 200 kilopascals (kpa) are regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 WorkCover NSW.

The reforms will improve certainty and reduce red tape for industry and consumers in their dealings with the regulation of gas.