News

This morning, Master Plumbers Association of NSW CEO Nathaniel Smith joined Ron Wilson on 2SM Breakfast to discuss the fallout from dodgy heat pump installations and the NSW Government’s long-overdue response.   Nathaniel highlighted the real risks to consumers and the urgent need for stronger oversight and enforcement. Master Plumbers NSW continues to lead the

The NSW Government is finally taking action on dodgy heat pump installations after weeks of media coverage and pressure from industry.   Following weeks of media scrutiny and warnings from Master Plumbers NSW, the NSW Government has launched a targeted compliance blitz on heat pump installations and vowed to crack down on the sale of

The Daily Telegraph has continued its coverage on the heat pump crisis, revealing that hundreds of thousands of discounted systems were sold in Australia without needing to meet official product performance standards.   Despite concerns raised by industry and government, a loophole in the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) still has not been closed. Testing

Today, the Daily Telegraph published a follow-up to yesterday’s front-page story, revealing that dodgy heat pump installations could have gone unnoticed for more than two years due to a major regulatory loophole.   Between 2022 and late 2024, around 100,000 discounted systems were installed across NSW before the government introduced mandatory licensing checks. Compliance rates

Following recent front-page coverage, The Daily Telegraph has published yet another article exposing the growing concern over poorly installed and substandard heat pumps. This time the focus is on unqualified operators and cheap imported units. Protect your home and your family. Always use a licensed professional, preferably a Master Plumbers Association of NSW member, and

Mothers for Plumbers: Changing the Conversation Around Careers In today’s Daily Telegraph opinion piece (p25), Nathaniel Smith, CEO of Master Plumbers NSW, calls for a “Mothers for Plumbers” movement to reshape how we talk about careers in the trades. Parents, especially mums, are often the strongest influence on their children’s career decisions. For many successful

Dodgy Heat Pumps: A Systemic Issue This morning, Nathaniel Smith, CEO of Master Plumbers NSW, spoke with Mark Levy on 2GB following the Daily Telegraph’s front-page story on the alarming rise of low-quality heat pumps flooding the market. The NSW Building Commissioner has acknowledged it’s a “systemic issue.” A critical reminder for all consumers, always

If you’ve had a heat pump installed in the last 2 to 3 years, it’s crucial to ensure it’s done properly by a licensed professional, preferably a master plumber or a licensed electrician. There’s been a recent influx of low-quality heat pumps entering the market from overseas, combined with improper installations by unlicensed or underqualified

Nathaniel Smith, CEO of Master Plumbers NSW, warns that this scheme is “Pink Batts version two.”   Bill Armstrong, a long-time Guardian on the Master Plumbers NSW Executive Committee, witnessed one of these installations in the Southern Highlands and said it was “the worst installation job I’ve seen in 55 years on the tools.” This