Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Peter Smith Ross Tester Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness, VK3UG Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490 All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Hannanprint, Noble Park, Victoria. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $69.50 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip Queensland TV repairs now need an electrical licence Yep, the Queensland Government, via its union-dominated Electrical Safety Office, has been at it again. With its new Electrical Safety Act, commencing on October 1st, 2002, any business doing repairs on electronic or electrical appliances now needs an electrical contractor’s licence. Previously, this re­quirement only applied to those doing electrical installation work but now, after the farcical electrical safety review at the beginning of 2002, the vise is tightening. So if you are in a business in Queensland doing any sort of electronic or electrical appliance repairs, you now need an electrical contractor’s licence. The fact that you are more highly skilled than any electrician cuts no ice – you now need an electrical contractor’s licence; end of story. This is supposedly all in the interest of reducing death from contact with electric­ity but as anyone who knows the true situation can attest, most people who die in Queensland from electrocution are either elec­tricians or trades people working on construction sites. No doubt there will be plenty of people who will bleat about this new licence requirement but we gave heaps of warning about this nonsense when we had our long and ultimately futile campaign about do-it-yourself electrical wiring. I cannot believe that the affected various trade organisations, engineers and businesses have allowed this legislation to be enacted. They have been utterly supine. Well, the reward for apathy is more government regulation and since there are Labor governments in every Austra­lian state, this nonsense will probably spread throughout the country. The requirement for businesses to have an electrical contra­ctor’s licence takes effect from 1st February 2003. Furthermore, “If an applicant cannot complete the necessary competency for the business component (public service speak for shutting you out), an application will be accepted so long as the applicant provides a certificate of attainment within six months of obtaining their licence and before 1st August 2003”. If you want to read more of this mindless bureaucratic drivel, go to the website www.eso.qld.gov.au The net result of this stupidity will not be an improvement in the death rate from electrocution in Queensland. But as always happens when government becomes intrusive, there will be lots of unintended consequences and ordinary people will be worse off. Many small electrical and electronic repair businesses in Queens­land will close. There is not a shadow of doubt about this. These small businesses already have enough burdens without having to try and satisfy this unnecessary regulation. Many who have been soldiering on for years will now close up and take retirement. Can you blame them? Even larger repair businesses that do warranty work on new appliances will look askance at this new requirement. I would not be surprised if some of these decide to give up as well. So not only will Queenslanders not be able to get their TV, PC, fax machine or other electronic gear fixed, they won’t get their washing machine, dryer, stove, vacuum cleaner or other appliances fixed either. Good result, eh? Far more repairable appliances will end up on the tip. And how much hardship will be caused to those who can ill-afford to buy replacement applianc­es. Of course, those few Queenslanders who do manage to find a repairer in the future will sleep much more soundly because their appliance was fixed by a “licenced electrical contractor”. Won’t that be nice? Is there any hope? Well, we do still live in a democracy (sort of). If the affected business organisations get off their behinds and really lobby the government, this nonsense could be overturned. But I’m not hopeful. Happy New Year. Leo Simpson www.siliconchip.com.au