Six-star energy efficiency requirements

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Wednesday, 16 February 2011]

Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Simon O'Brien

SIX-STAR ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
33. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the new six-star energy efficiency requirement for all new buildings, which will also apply to
alterations or additions to existing homes.
(1) Will the minister confirm that increased six-star energy efficiency requirements for all new dwellings
built in Queensland came into effect from 1 May 2010?
(2) Will the minister confirm that increased six-star energy efficiency requirements for all new dwellings
built in the ACT came into effect from 1 May 2010?
(3) Will the minister confirm that increased six-star energy efficiency requirements for all new dwellings
built in South Australia came into effect from 1 May 2010?
(4) Can the minister explain why the Western Australian government has not yet adopted six-star energy
efficiency requirements for all dwellings?
(5) When will the building industry in Western Australia be required to adopt six-star energy efficiency
requirements for all new dwellings?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(3) Yes.
(4)–(5) The six-star energy efficiency requirements are set to be adopted in Western Australia from 1 May
2011. However, transitional provisions in the Western Australian building regulations allow for
buildings to be approved under the superseded standards for 12 months. The government will continue
to monitor and assess the effectiveness of these measures to ensure that they achieve their desired
outcomes in a manner that does not impose undue increases on the cost of building for Western
Australians.