Consultation opens on electrical licensing reform

Consultation on the proposed reform of electrical occupations licensing has commenced. On 15 July, the COAG National Licensing Taskforce released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on options for reforming electrical licensing, which examines the impact of replacing the current array of licensing rules with a streamlined national approach.

The consultation period will remain open until 26 August, but may be extended.

The National Licensing Taskforce is seeking feedback on the scope and scale of the proposed changes, examples of the impact on licensees and businesses, on the durability of reform and on the merits of reform under different models for promoting a streamlined national approach to occupational licensing.

Under the proposed changes, electrical workers would need only one licence to work anywhere in Australia. “This reform would boost productivity and labour mobility, which is essential at a time when there is massive jobs growth in the north and west of the country,” said Minister for Skills Chris Evans.

“We need reform to make it easier for employers to relocate their skilled workers to areas of high demand and slash the amount of paperwork they need to complete to take on an apprentice.”

To begin with, the reform will affect electrical, property, plumbing and gasfitting, and refrigeration and air-conditioning occupations. Once the new system is in place, work will begin on reforming building and building-related occupation licensing.

Originally, the licensing reform was due to start on 1 July this year, but the start date has been pushed back to 2013. COAG said the delay would provide time to get the reform right.

Senator Evans said the national licensing system will remove “19th Century barriers and red tape restricting labour mobility”. While the reform is challenging, it will improve business productivity, Evans said.

According to the Regulation Impact Statement, the reform would benefit the economy to the tune of $22 million a year, growing to around $120 million after 10 years.

The COAG National Licensing Taskforce will conduct public information sessions on the reform in all capital cities. The schedule will be published here and in national newspapers when available.

Online submissions can be made here.