On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Nathaniel Smith, CEO of the Master Plumbers Association (MPA) of NSW, appeared on Ben Fordham Live (2GB Sydney) to oppose a push by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) for a national “stop-work” temperature threshold. The ACTU has proposed that trades and outdoor workers should be permitted to down tools and shut down sites once temperatures reach 35°C, citing heatwaves as a major workplace health and safety threat.
Key Points of Discussion:
- Industry Opposition: Nathaniel Smith criticized the proposal as an “economic handbrake” and “reckless,” arguing that blanket shutdowns would exacerbate Australia’s existing housing and infrastructure crisis.
- Safety vs. Productivity: While the MPA NSW maintains that worker safety is paramount, Smith argued that risks should be managed through site-specific measures—such as hydration, shade, and altered start times—rather than “ideological thresholds” that disregard humidity, task type, or existing site controls.
- Union Strategy: Smith suggested the move was more about “industrial leverage” than genuine safety, pointing to similar policies in Queensland that have significantly reduced productive workdays during the summer months.
Listen to the podcast live here – 2GB Podcast 5th February 2026
