ETU responds to Budget

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has responded positively to the recently announced federal Budget, highlighting wins such as the introduction of a national electrical licence and apprentice initiatives.

National electrical licence

The ETU welcomed the Albanese government’s intention to establish a high-quality national electrical licence — something that its members had long campaigned for. In designing such a licence, the government said it would work with unions, business, states and territories.

A high-quality national electrical licence will enable electrical workers to move more easily between states to pursue work in high-demand sectors like construction and energy. The existence of the licence will also provide greater community understanding of the quality and importance of work performed by licensed electricians, the ETU said.

“Australia has some of the best electrical workers and highest electrical standards in the world. A national licence must reflect that,” ETU National Secretary Michael Wright said.

“We will work with government and industry on a licensing scheme that sets the global standard in this high-risk, fast-moving trade. The Australian national electrical licence must be a mark of quality and safety that workers, industry, consumers and employers feel proud of and have confidence in.”

Wright said that all Australians had the right to know that work performed by licensed Australian electricians had been carried out safely and skilfully by a professional whose capability has been certified to the highest level.

“The national regime must put safety and quality at the centre of its design, reflecting existing best practice from across the country — not composed of existing lowest common denominators in sub-national jurisdictions. Electricians are ready for a national license that they can stand behind and say, ‘Australia’s electrical work is the best in the world’,” he said.

Apprenticeship incentives

This year, the government announced the Key Apprenticeship Program, which expands the number of roles covered by its previous New Energy Apprenticeships program (announced 2023). This means the government will double the maximum apprentice incentive payment for eligible housing construction apprentices from $5000 to $10,000 — an incentive that was already offered to all apprentices in the clean energy sector.

In recognition of electrical workers’ key role in the rollout of new energy infrastructure, these incentives will cover nearly all electrical apprentices, the ETU said.

In addition to the apprenticeship and licence announcements, the ETU also praised the federal government’s commitment to support the Whyalla Steelworks via a $2.4 billion combined investment with the South Australian Government.

Image credit: iStock.com/LOUISE BEAUMONT