NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today announced her department has called a meeting of industry representatives to discuss whether non-compliant installation of guttering is an issue and if any action is required.

Ms Burney said the meeting proposed for next Thursday, 6 March would bring together the peak building and plumbing associations, guttering manufacturers, government agencies and Standards Australia.

“I would like to clarify once and for all, with all the parties present, whether or not there is an issue, what the scale of it is and if any action at all is required,” Ms Burney said.

“Feedback to date from the building and plumbing industries and insurers, as well as Office of Fair Trading complaint statistics, do not support the claims by one plumber of a widespread problem.

“Despite the recent publicity given to the issue, there is still not any evidence emerging of a major problem as being claimed by the Opposition.

“If there is a widespread problem with this guttering that has been in use for 17 years and the Opposition has evidence to support their claims they are morally bound to bring it forward – to date they have not. This is what I’m endeavouring to determine.

“Again, I encourage all home owners who believe their high-front gutters have not been installed correctly to have them inspected by their builder or plumber.

“Should they have trouble in having the guttering re-installed correctly they should lodge a complaint with Fair Trading at this website or call 13 32 20.”

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