Ai Group's Standards and Regulatory Services (SRS) team manages three key areas: 

• Standards engagement: We provide a gateway to Standards Australia that facilitates engagement for our members on technical committees (we have approximately 250 members participating on 350 committee seats) to influence the development of standards that impacts their products; 
• Regulatory advocacy: Advocacy to regulators and policy makers in the building, plumbing and electrical products sector (we have seats on the ABCB Plumbing Code Committee and Building Code Committee);
• Special projects: As at Feb 2025 we are running the following projects:
  
  • Providing input and support for the Australian Government on the review of the Closer Economic Relations (specifically the movement of goods under the TTMRA) between Australia and New Zealand.
  • Partnering with the National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC) to lift the profile of AI within industry

Technical Standards

Ai Group is recognised as a leading contributor and supporter to the standards ecosystem through its formal involvement and collaboration with Standards Australia. Ai Group has staff and members involved with Standards Australia at many levels including the Board, Council and technical committees. 

Ai Group is represented on over 350 committee seats by 250 representatives. In addition to industry representation, the technical committees also include representatives from Government, regulators, academia, unions, consumers and other stakeholders. Positions on main technical committees are held by nominating organisations to ensure that a broad base of stakeholders are represented. 

Ai Group's Standards Services team has developed an Ai Group Standards Committee Representative Handbook. This document covers a range of relevant matters including policy on standards development, requirements for representatives, selection process, requirements for Project Proposals, issues escalation and other relevant information. We encourage our committee representatives to be familiar with it – the document can be downloaded here. 

If you wish to be involved in a standards committee or wish further information please contact Ai Group by emailing info@aigroup.com.au or contact James Thomson, our Lead Standards and Product Regulation

Product Regulation 

Ai Group provides advocacy to Government and regulators on a number of key regulations including: 

• Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), 
• Greenhouse Emissions Minimum Standards (GEMS) system, 
• Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS), 
• Water Mark Certification Scheme (WMCS) and the

National Construction Code (NCC).

Special projects

CER/TTMRA review

Ai Group is supporting the Australian Government’s work with the New Zealand Government and BusinessNZ in reviewing the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA) and rebuilding it.

The core principle of the Agreement is that goods acceptable for sale in Australia will be acceptable for sale in New Zealand, and vice versa, without the need to meet additional administrative or regulatory requirements. It's a great principle – but our members have found that in 20 years of operation regulatory and other barriers have started to creep in and have weakened it.

With the review of the TTMRA announced in 2023 both nations have the opportunity to see what should be done to strengthen the TTMR. Ai Group is collecting examples from businesses in Australia where exporters have encountered trade irritants and blockages.

Trade between Australian and New Zealand is estimated at over $30 Billion annually so any friction from barriers, like those above, can result in large costs that have to be borne by consumers.

Artificial Intelligence

Ai Group has now hosted a number of events with the National AI Centre (NAIC - CSIRO) to lift the profile of Artificial Intelligence. The Government has forecast that by 2030 the Australian economy may grow by $600 B per year because of the uptake of AI however reluctance in the community may erode this figure. Ai Group plans more AI events throughout 2025 including a focus on robotics.

Ai Group is also compiling case studies on members journeys with AI. Please contact us if you have an interest.

Links to Technical Infrastructure Organisations 

Standards Australia
Standards Australia is the nation's peak non-government Standards organisation. It is charged by the Commonwealth Government to meet Australia's need for contemporary, internationally aligned Standards and related services. The work of Standards Australia enhances the nation's economic efficiency, international competitiveness and contributes to community demand for a safe and sustainable environment. It leads and promotes a respected and unbiased Standards development process ensuring all competing interests are heard, their points of view considered and consensus reached. 

ISO
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer of voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade. 

IEC
Founded in 1906, the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is the world's leading organization for the preparation and publication of International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. These are known collectively as "electrotechnology". 

JASANZ
JAS-ANZ is the government-appointed accreditation body for Australia and New Zealand responsible for providing accreditation of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) in the fields of certification and inspection. Accreditation by JAS-ANZ demonstrates the competence and independence of these CABs. 

NATA
NATA is the authority that provides independent assurance of technical competence through a proven network of best practice industry experts for customers who require confidence in the delivery of their products and services. NATA provides assessment, accreditation and training services to laboratories and technical facilities throughout Australia and internationally.