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Federal officials used Wire & Gas 2026 to confirm that the government intends to prohibit new vehicles entering Australia charged with R134a. This will close a gap in the HFC phase-down that is already threatening to cause a supply crunch for refrigerant used to service existing equipment as bulk R134a import quotas tighten. Wire & … Continue reading Government moves to shut out cars using R134a at the border

The Wire & Gas 2026 convention gala awards dinner (sponsored by NAPA) hosted 10 award presentations recognising automotive careers spanning more than four decades, workshops setting the standard on refrigerant handling, and the technicians and mentors coming up behind them. Four VASA Industry Excellence Awards went to Colin Beards of Mobile Car Air Queensland, Andrew … Continue reading Wire & Gas 2026: Awards round-up

The second biennial ARCtick Environment Award for Exemplary Refrigerant Management in the mobile sector will be presented at the Wire & Gas 2026 convention in Brisbane on 1 August. Nominations for the award are made by Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) field officers based on their field engagement visits to thousands of Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) … Continue reading Wire & Gas 2026 to host presentation of ARCtick Environment Award for Exemplary Refrigerant Management – Mobile

automotive air-conditioning technnician

VASA members and others in the automotive air-conditioning sector have until Sunday 10 May to provide feedback on draft units of competency that will shape how the industry trains for flammable refrigerant handling. The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) has released a first draft of updated training products from the Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning … Continue reading Have your say on flammable refrigerant training units

From left - VASA directors Casey Swain and Brendan Sorensen with award winner Dion Carle and REDARC's David Schneiders

Leading Australian electronic equipment manufacturer REDARC is offering a $5,250 prize for the 2026 REDARC Young Technician of the Year Award, to be announced at Wire & Gas in Brisbane. Nominations are now open, and the winner will also receive a fully funded ticket to Wire & Gas, to be staged by VASA and The … Continue reading Nominate now for REDARC Young Technician of the Year – $5250 prize!

Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) technical and training manager Noel Munkman has been confirmed as a panellist for the refrigerant stewardship session at Wire & Gas 2026 on Sunday, 2 August. Mr Munkman will join Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) general manager Kylie Farrelley and Refrigerants Australia executive director and ARC chair Greg Picker for a panel … Continue reading ARC technical expert Noel Munkman confirmed for Wire & Gas panel session

The 2026 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14–16 May with a technical training program headlined by international diagnostic specialists, a new on-floor discovery zone and more than 400 exhibiting brands across the aftermarket. Co-located with the Collision Repair Expo and sponsored by Repco, the biennial event is … Continue reading What to expect at this year’s Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo in May