SPASA Wars: States reject Alliance; consultations planned for January
The launch of SPASA Australia (the Alliance) has driven a wedge between NSW and the other State associations, with the non-NSW States refusing to recognise the new body while promoting the legitimacy of the pre-existing organisation, SPASA Australia Ltd.
On the positive side, all parties have expressed interest in further discussions and a meeting has been tentatively planned for mid-January. However, the non-NSW SPASAs will be urging the continuance and improvement of SPASA Australia Ltd, while NSW will be urging them to join SPASA Australia (the Alliance).
While many non-NSW States have agreed that changes might be needed at SPASA Australia Ltd, they expressed shock at the way the new association was formed. As well as being critical of NSW for launching the new body without consultation, they questioned the timing as the peak season is underway and board members are occupied with their own businesses.
The non-NSW States have also expressed concern that a combined national committee in SPASA Australia would be subservient to what is ostensibly the NSW board. Another concern has to do with reduced revenue to the States, in particular the loss of national member fee income.
In a joint statement, the four non-NSW SPASAs say they stand together in opposition to the formation of the Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance of Australia and that none of them will join the new organisation.
They also say they intend to continue guaranteeing the SPASA National Member Program across Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, providing full reciprocal member benefits and rights. It is understood that if NSW does not participate – as it has indicated – a revised fee structure will be put in place for the national members.
They say they will continue to work together for the greater good of industry and have strongly urged NSW to abandon the Alliance concept and return to the negotiating table with the aim of improving SPASA Australia Ltd, which they say is the legitimate national body.
In the joint statement, they say that the four States represent by far the largest proportion of the industry and will stand as one to protect member rights.
Consultation sought
Adrian Hart, CEO of SPASA Queensland, says the Queensland board and management was surprised and dismayed at the formation of the new body. He describes it as a divisive action and says it amounts to “the passing off of the legitimate national body, SPASA Australia Ltd, by the NSW association.”
He says the plan is for SPASA NSW to subsume all State SPASA associations.
“The four other State associations have been offered a sub-committee position – reporting to the NSW Board,” he says. “The four unified State associations have declared that no other State SPASA will join the NSW national alliance. There is no alliance, in fact this action has put a wedge between the States.”
He says that legal advice has been sought on the apparent conflicts of interest, SPASA brand acquisitions and other issues that cannot be disclosed at this time.
He also says that all the States together formed SPASA Australia Ltd and it should be given a chance to work.
Roger Lefort, General Manager of SPASA WA also says that SPASA Australia Ltd needs to be given a chance to work.
“We believe we should be sitting around the table to discuss the situation – we’re happy to meet everyone and work through any anomalies and differences regarding SPASA Australia Ltd. But we think we should sit down and talk in a professional manner to see how we can work together and I think we can.
“Our board met and unanimously agreed not to be involved in the Alliance in any shape or form. We don’t see why SPASA Australia Ltd can’t be worked through. We’re happy to go wherever – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne – they can come here if they want.
“If SPASA Australia Ltd needs changes to the constitution, then we can do that. I think we can work through it,” he says.
Response from the Alliance
“The Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance of Australia (SPASA Australia) has been overwhelmed with support since it was launched,” say CEO Spiros Dassakis.
“We have engaged in dialogue with every SPASA State organisation and have signalled our willingness to meet early in the New Year to discuss how they may participate in 2013 and beyond. We remain hopeful of a positive outcome.”
At a well-attended SPASA Australia (Alliance) meeting in Parramatta on December 6, the Alliance concept received considerable support from the members who were present, including many national SPASA members.
At that meeting, Dassakis said that he had enquiries from builders and retailers in other States, but in the first instance suggested they go back to their State associations and ask them to participate in SPASA Australia. He said the preferred way forward was to have the official involvement of all other States, by which all their members could become members of SPASA Australia. However, if that did not eventuate SPASA Australia would welcome members from other States individually.
Dassakis says that SPASA Australia members have continued to receive high level representation, benefits and support across all sectors and they will seek to further promote participation from members in all States who belong to like-minded organisations and wish to partake in SPASA Australia activities.
“We are proud to be able to offer the swimming pool and spa industry a proactive and functional national body which is also a registered training organisation, functions via majority vote, is fully funded, accountable and driven,” he says.
“Importantly, SPASA Australia not only belongs to its members but allows them to join directly under one brand.”
Dassakis says that SPASA Australia has been hard at work finalising a national heating submission to the Australian Building Codes Board, and that he has just returned from a national policy conference in Canberra covering both State and Federal evidence-based discussions on training, licensing, urban planning, infrastructure affordability as well as future red tape reduction targets.
“We are continuing with our core focuses, including representing the many and varied interests of the entire swimming pool and spa industry to a diverse audience, which includes government, legislative bodies, consumers, media and of course our members.”
