Frequently Asked Questions - Fees
Why are the fees being increased?
Not all fees have been increased, in fact you’ll find that some of them have actually decreased. It is important to note that these fee changes will not significantly increase the revenue of the Board, but will ensure that the fees paid are fairly attributed to the appropriate area of activity.
The focus of the fees review was to assess and apportion the real cost to each function the Board administers, to the relevant cost centre. And, to also ensure that the Board operates as a prudent organisation.
I’ve already got my licence for the year, do I have to pay for a new one on 1 August 2010?
No. The new fees will only apply to you once you go to relicense again.
Why is there a discipline levy of $266?
Nearly half of the Board’s costs are related to complaints and discipline. The change in the discipline levy now reflects the true cost per practitioner.
The Board, in the near future, will be reviewing the discipline process and its related costs to see where this can be made more efficient.
It is important to note that this fee is now per practitioner, not per licence.
Why has the registration fee increased from $85 to $500?
Registration has increased as it now reflects a more realistic cost that the Board incurs to process a registration application than it did previously. With the previous fee there was a high level of cross-subsidisation. This meant that when practitioners paid for their annual licence they were significantly subsidising the registration fee.
The true cost of registration is actually $1400. The consultation process found, however, that it would be appropriate to have a minimal amount of cross-subsidisation in order to help significantly decrease the cost of registration.
I’m registering for the first time, do I have to pay the discipline levy?
Yes. The discipline levy is a separate fee that each practitioner pays each licensing period.
What do I get for paying my fees?
The fees you pay enable you to be licensed to work in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry. By paying your fees you are helping to protect the industry you work in.
The Board is not a membership or industry organisation; we exist to protect the health and safety of consumers.
What does the Board do with the fees collected?
The fees collected are spent on the operations and functions it administers as set out in the 2006 Act. This includes registration, licensing, CPD, complaints and discipline, examinations, gas certificates and the other functions that support these.
Each year we are required to break-even with our revenue. But at the same time we need to hold an adequate level of reserves to allow for fluctuations in income and unplanned costs.
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