Trade fees are just another tax grab

THE State Government claims that a 1200 per cent increase in our registration fees will protect the consumers from dodgy operators.

Under the old 1951 Plumbers Registration Act, a tradesperson who had completed his apprenticeship and training could apply to be a registered plumber.

He would need to fill in a start-work notice when plans had been lodged with the local council. This work would be inspected by a qualified inspector and would receive a completion notice when finished. All this work had to be completed to Australian standards and regulations. Any faults resulted in a notice to rectify.

If this is not a regulated industry, what is?

The Master Plumbers Association accepts the new fees (Mercury, February 22) but it represents only about 10 per cent of all registered plumbers in Tasmania.

I have been a registered plumber for 50 years and have run my own business for 40. I feel insulted that I now have to apply to run my own business and pay $734 to do so. This just to give nine public servants a job that is not going to do one thing for the consumer or my business except create additional paperwork, new stationery and records that have to be stored now for 10 years.

The only people being crucified are the registered plumbers who install or work to Australian standards. How are they going to “clean up the industry” when there are already the necessary rules and regulations in place that the qualified tradesperson adheres to? It is just a tax grab.

John Oldenhof

Bradys Lookout