COAG rejects proposed national electrical licensing scheme

COAG’s refusal to sign off on the proposed national electrical licensing scheme has been welcomed by NECA (the National Electrical and Communications Association).

NECA says the proposal was not supported by industry and would have undermined electrical safety across Australia.

However, the association expressed its disappointment that, after four years of hard work, the industry still does not have an industry-supported national licensing system in place. The current state-by-state regime adds to the burden of smaller businesses in terms of administration, NECA says.

“Industry has repeatedly put forward a system aimed at achieving a quality national licensing scheme but has been frustrated by bureaucratic interventions that would have only served to lower existing standards and thereby increase the likelihood of further safety concerns,” NECA said in a statement.

“NECA looks forward to working with the state governments to strive for a quality and industry-supported national licensing system in the new year and would support a ‘driving licence’ model as an interim arrangement. Under a driving licence model, a registered electrical contractor from one state would be recognised in the other states and territories.

“We urge our industry to support this new interim direction, reconfirm their desire for a quality national licensing system and to thank their state and territory governments for uniting to dismiss the unsatisfactory proposal originally tabled.”