Australia NDIY

[Tony Bryer]

"...amateurs can't begin to understand the complexities of household electrical systems..."

Yes, they confiscate the required brain cells at customs!

[Huge]

trades associations have stitched the general public up like a kipper.

[David WE Roberts]

--

"Its no wonder there is a skills shortage in Australia, The rules stifle any intellegent person from becoming multi skilled. Many of the places I have worked, most of the skilled guys are Poms Jocks, or Kiwis, who have been brought up to use their brain, study the task at hand and learn to do that task, Here in Oz its, Im not allowed to do it so I wont try. It realy does seem to dumb down the aussies. "

and

"The regulations are a joke in Australia. In the UK school students are taught to wire up an electrical plug, in Australia it's a potential $100,000 fine."

So the Oz government are full steam ahead where the UK government are just taking the first stumbling steps.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Are they in the UK? It's rather pointless since everything comes with a fitted plug these days.

I wasn't taught how to do this at school - and when I was of that age there were several different types of plug still in use so a more needed skill.

[Roger Mills]

Indeed. When I were a lad, 5 amp and 15 amp round-pin plugs were common

- as well as 5 amp 2-pin plugs, and bayonet connectors for running stuff off light fittings.

I was never taught to wire any of these - I just regarded it as common sense. I don't think I've ever been *taught* to do any of the DIY stuff which I do - with the possible exception of some basic woodwork at school. All the rest - plumbing, electrical installation, heating systems, a bit of bricklaying, etc. - I've just learnt by *doing* it, often aided by discussions here in cases where I needed to check on the best way of doing things, and of any possible pitfalls.

I rather fear that the next generation will not be so enterprising!

[Michael Kilpatrick]

What a load of nasty scaremongering nonsense that is! Nanny state.

Michael

[Steve Firth]

that site supposed to prove that we sent the rejects to Australia? Come to think of it, Wodney proves that on a daily basis.

What a load of drivel, job protectionism at its worst. And the end result, judging from the photos, is that lack of DIY maintenance simply means that electrical systems are allowed to decay until they are dangerous.

[fred]

Well put, the classic Australian, over unionised, closed shop mentality.

[Tim Watts]

Not really as some of the fitted plugs are poor (beware 2-3kW heaters from Argos - had one burn out 2 sockets until I put an MK plug on it).

Also, lead length ajustments, ability to inspect existing manually fitted plugs...

[Andy Cap]

It's not that different here with constant warnings about the dire dangers. I wonder if it's what discourages youngsters from buying a run down place and doing it up over time, which is what most people once did. Now they are encouraged to pay £30,000 - well add it to the mortgage - over the top, because it's been 'developed' and someone's pocketed £20,000 for a few weeks work. I wonder too, how much unsafe stuff is about, because people don't want to involve a professional and get ripped off or simply can't afford the labour.

Andy C

[John Rumm]

like a lefties wet dream, talk about protectionism and closed shop!

[John Rumm]

>>>>

Given the comment about shops being full of accessories etc, it would be interesting to note how many people actually take any notice of the rules.

Much as with part P here...

[Tim Watts]

I did not know about the plumbing restrictions - how do they even attempt to justify that with the public???

I am very disappointed - I thought Oz was full of real men who were not uttery useless...

[Tony Bryer]

I worked on a Habitat for Humanity project as a volunteer - one of the jobs that could only be done by a licensed professional was fixing corrugated metal roofing to the carport.

For all the regulation, lots of what is done would not pass muster in the UK. There's no concept of running cables horizontally or vertically, sockets and switches are fixed to unbacked metal frames and plastic gas pipes are run down the cavity between timber frame and brick veneer.

[The Medway Handyman]

>>> --

There is an Australian Handyman Franchise called "Hire a Hubby"

don't do any plumbing or electrical work - makes me wonder how they make a living.

[The Medway Handyman]

Last year I worked for a lady who was an ex pat Brit who had lived in Oz for 16 years.

She told tales of regulations beyond belief, even down to height of hedges & shrubs.

[Huge]

They have some pretty draconian traffic regulations, too. Low speed limits enforced from aircraft and an amusing offence called "exhibition of speed" which is for when you just *look* like you're speeding; squealing tyres away from traffic lights, for example.

[Roger Mills]

Maybe they perform other husbandly duties?

[Tim Watts]

Pretty much highlights it for the joke that it is then...

I knew an Ozzie bloke (expat) - I gather a lot of people ignore the bollocks and just do it anyway.

[Tim Watts]

Perhap they do the missus?