Halogen lights will disappear from Australian retail stores in the next 12-24 months as the world moves to LED light Australia’s peak lighting industry body announced last week.
Lighting Council Australia (LCA) has welcomed the recent COAG Energy Council Minister’s meeting, which endorsed a new regulatory approach for next-generation LED lighting in Australia.
The lighting industry, which provides 4,500 manufacturing jobs across Australia in a highly competitive global market, had been facing a significant increase in compliance costs arising from a Commonwealth Department of Environment proposal to be made under federal law.
Recognising the earlier proposal would have been a disaster, LCA CEO, Richard Mulcahy, said the federal government announced immediate changes.
“An additional $80 million worth of red tape would have raised consumer prices and have seen job losses in one of Australia’s few remaining viable manufacturing industries," Mulcahy said.
The dispute was the subject of an intervention by Environment Minister, Josh Frydenberg, after significant industry representations.
“Minister Frydenberg saw that there was a problem with the proposal and instructed his Department to rework the policy on the basis of real industry consultation," Mulcahy said.
"The end proposal, which was recently endorsed by COAG, was a very reasonable compromise that will align Australian regulations with those applied overseas.
“The Minister should be applauded for his leadership. We are also extremely grateful for the support provided by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on this issue.
“Additionally, Minister Frydenberg has taken a significant step in reducing Australians’ home electricity bills”, Mulcahy said in reference to the agreed ban on halogen lights which is expected to save Australian consumers $1 billion over the next decade.
“Halogen lamps use between three and five times as much electricity as new generation LED technology. As an industry committed to strong environmental outcomes, we’re pleased to play a major role in taking pressure off household and business budgets.”