Recent News
Victorian-based fire protection company fined
$500,000 by the Federal Court of Australia
5 NOVEMBER 2020
In a significant ruling by the Federal Court of Australia,
a Victorian-based fire protection company was fined $500,000
for the unlawful importation of hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC).
The company was found to be in contravention of section 13(1) of
the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act
1989 (the Act) for importing bulk HFC without a
controlled substances licence.
This is the largest civil penalty issued under the Act and
clearly demonstrates that deliberately
operating outside the obligations under the Act will not
be tolerated.
To view the Department of Agriculture, Water and
Environment's media release on the Federal Court's decision, click
here:
www.minister.awe.gov.au/ley/media-releases/company-fined-500000-unlawfully-importing-synthetic-greenhouse-gas
The FPIB is now on LinkedIn
13 OCTOBER 2020
The FPIB is pleased to announce that we have created a
LinkedIn page.
This social media platform will allow us to exchange important
industry information, monitor industry innovation and trends and
observe best practice methods. We are always striving to be better
connected with the fire protection industry, so please check out
our page and connect with us.
September GasBag
5 OCTOBER 2020
If you missed out on our most recent GasBag newsletter and want
to be across the latest fire protection industry permit scheme
news, you can catch up here.
We've updated our self-assessment
checklists
1 OCTOBER 2020
The Board has updated the self-assessment checklist for each
permit category (EAHL, EATA and HSP). For a quick and easy way to
gauge how compliant you are against the conditions of your permit,
you can complete the relevant checklist by clicking here.
Stronger penalties now in place for breaching
permit conditions
4 SEPTEMBER 2020
From 19 August 2020, it is a criminal offence under
the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management
Regulations 1995 to breach any condition of your fire
protection industry permit.
Individuals who are found guilty of the new offence can be fined
a maximum of $2,220. Corporations that are found guilty face a
stiffer penalty of up to $11,100. In the past, if you breached a
condition of your permit, you could have your permit cancelled or
suspended, or be denied a renewal of your permit. This can still
happen now, in addition to being fined.
The new offences are 'strict liability offences'. This means
fines can be applied without proof that you intended to breach
permit conditions.
To read the new offence provisions in full, view: www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01029 .