Western Australia is setting a new standard for public transparency and the ripple effects are creating fresh opportunities for AV integrators. Recent legislation now requires council chambers, courts, and other public bodies to live-stream and record meetings, raising the bar for AV systems in terms of usability, reliability, and scalability.

The mandate is more than a compliance exercise. It reflects a broader shift in public-sector thinking: AV systems are no longer mere presentation tools, but critical infrastructure supporting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. As agencies rush to implement these changes, integrators are tasked with creating solutions that are both sophisticated and accessible.

Delivering AV for Governance

For integrators like Redfish Technologies, the challenge was to design repeatable systems that could work across a range of venues from bustling urban council chambers to remote regional courts. The solution blends professional-grade streaming and recording devices, such as Epiphan Pearl units, with familiar audio systems from Bosch and Televic. The focus, however, is on simplicity: touchscreens, pre-configured layouts for different meeting types, and remote management capabilities make the systems operable by governance staff rather than technical teams.

In practice, this means a city council in Perth and a remote Shire council can deploy nearly identical systems without additional engineering overhead. Operators can switch between open sessions, confidential discussions, or presentation modes with ease, while IT teams monitor and maintain performance remotely.

What It Means for Integrators

This mandate highlights the evolving role of integration firms in public infrastructure projects. Projects like these demand not just technical know-how, but strategic thinking: repeatable deployments, user-centric control, remote monitoring, and the ability to work within strict governance and compliance frameworks.

The implications extend beyond WA. Across Australia, public bodies are increasingly recognising AV as essential to civic infrastructure, particularly in the realms of transparency, record-keeping, and citizen engagement. Integrators with systems that combine streaming, recording, and remote management, all while remaining easy to operate are well-positioned for growth.

Broader Trends to Watch

The WA mandate signals several trends likely to shape the Australian AV integration market:

• Standardisation: As more agencies adopt similar requirements, common workflows and specifications will emerge, favouring integrators with repeatable deployment models.

• Interoperability: AV systems now need to interface seamlessly with IT, network, and remote management infrastructures, encouraging tighter collaboration between integrators and public-sector IT teams.

• Lifecycle Support: Remote installations demand robust service models. Solutions that include remote monitoring, fail-safe backup, and minimal on-site maintenance are becoming key differentiators.

Western Australia’s push for transparent governance is more than a legislative requirement it’s a catalyst for innovation in AV integration. For firms operating in the public sector, it’s a timely reminder that the next wave of opportunities will reward those who can deliver systems that are not just functional, but intuitive, scalable, and future-ready.