Standards Australia
Encyclopedia
Standards Australia was established in 1922 and is recognised through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government
as the peak non-government standards development body in Australia. It is a company limited by guarantee, with 72 members representing groups interested in the development and application of standards and related products and services. Through its Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government, it is Australia's member of the two major international standardising organisations, the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission
(the IEC).
Standards Australia develops internationally aligned Australian standards and participates in standards-related activities that deliver benefit to the nation. Since 1991, Standards Australia has promoted excellence in design and innovation through the annual Australian International Design Awards
.
In 2003 Standards Australia disposed of its principal commercial interests in publishing and assurance services when it floated its subsidiary company SAI Global Ltd on the Australian Stock Exchange. Initially it retained a 40% interest in SAI Global, but progressively sold this shareholding down to zero, enabling it to focus exclusively on its core business of developing and managing its collection of 7000 Australian standards and representing Australia's interests in international standardisation.
These documents are practical and don’t set impossible goals. They are based on sound industrial, scientific and consumer experience and are constantly reviewed to ensure they keep pace with new technologies.
They cover everything from consumer products and services, construction, engineering, business, information technology, human services to energy and water utilities, the environment and much more.
Each standard is developed by a committee made up of technical, business, academia, government and community experts who come together to debate how a product or system should perform and how it should be made. Before finalisation, every standard is subject to public comment to ensure everyone with an interest in the subject has the opportunity to input.
's quest to have its OOXML document format ratified as a standard with the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). Computer magazine ITWire described Standard Australia's decision to cast an "abstain" vote as "bizarre".
Standards Australia decision followed continued consultation with the OOXML working group (made up of industry, the community and government) who could not come to an agreed position.
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
as the peak non-government standards development body in Australia. It is a company limited by guarantee, with 72 members representing groups interested in the development and application of standards and related products and services. Through its Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government, it is Australia's member of the two major international standardising organisations, the International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"...
(the IEC).
Standards Australia develops internationally aligned Australian standards and participates in standards-related activities that deliver benefit to the nation. Since 1991, Standards Australia has promoted excellence in design and innovation through the annual Australian International Design Awards
Australian Design Award
The Australian International Design Awards is an industry body established by the Industrial Design Council of Australia , founded in 1958. The Awards are Australia's only national design awards for industrial design...
.
In 2003 Standards Australia disposed of its principal commercial interests in publishing and assurance services when it floated its subsidiary company SAI Global Ltd on the Australian Stock Exchange. Initially it retained a 40% interest in SAI Global, but progressively sold this shareholding down to zero, enabling it to focus exclusively on its core business of developing and managing its collection of 7000 Australian standards and representing Australia's interests in international standardisation.
Standards documents
Standards are published documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they were intended to. They establish a common language which defines quality and safety criteria.These documents are practical and don’t set impossible goals. They are based on sound industrial, scientific and consumer experience and are constantly reviewed to ensure they keep pace with new technologies.
They cover everything from consumer products and services, construction, engineering, business, information technology, human services to energy and water utilities, the environment and much more.
Each standard is developed by a committee made up of technical, business, academia, government and community experts who come together to debate how a product or system should perform and how it should be made. Before finalisation, every standard is subject to public comment to ensure everyone with an interest in the subject has the opportunity to input.
OOXML
Standards Australia was criticised over the way it represented Australia's position in MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's quest to have its OOXML document format ratified as a standard with the International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO). Computer magazine ITWire described Standard Australia's decision to cast an "abstain" vote as "bizarre".
Standards Australia decision followed continued consultation with the OOXML working group (made up of industry, the community and government) who could not come to an agreed position.
External links
- Standards Australia website
- SAI Global InfoStore Exclusive Australian Standards distributor website