14 January 2011

500 interstate electricians put up hands to help flood recovery

Today, peak Australian electrical industry body, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), said the response from interstate electrical contractors wanting to help in the inspection process to speed up electricity reconnection in Queensland following the floods has been truly amazing.

NECA chief executive officer, Mr James Tinslay, said that over 250 electrical contracting businesses that employ in excess of 500 electricians from across Australia have registered with the peak electrical industry body and that the additional manpower will help get more homes and businesses connected.

“NECA has over 5000 members in Australia and I’m overwhelmed that so many electrical contractors have expressed an interest in travelling to Queensland to help with the inspection process. We have had electrical contractors from as far away as Perth and Adelaide put up their hands to help out,” Mr Tinslay said.

“The Queensland government and electricity distributors have correctly advised that electricity will not be reconnected to homes or businesses that were inundated with water until a licensed electrical contractor can complete an inspection. A safety first approach at this time is the correct approach.”

NECA is working with authorities on how to best use resources from interstate.

Over 30,000 homes and hundreds of businesses were inundated with flood water and many of the buildings are still flooded. This means that there needs to be over 30,000 electrical inspections before electricity can be reconnected to the flood affected homes and businesses.

NECA is currently liaising with the Queensland Attorney-General and the Electrical Safety Office to pave the way for interstate assistance as state-based licensing and electrical regulations prevents contractors from interstate working in Queensland.

“NECA has begun discussions with the Queensland government to establish a regime that would temporarily suspend the requirement for electrical contractors to have a specific Queensland licence so interstate workers can begin the recovery work as soon as it is practical.

“Having the correct electrical licence is very important but when you consider the magnitude of the recovery operation it will be very beneficial to be able to access qualified electrical contractors from interstate,” Mr Tinslay said.

Any licensed electrical contractor interested in helping should visit the NECA website at http://www.neca.asn.au for information on how they can register to assist in the inspection process.

-ENDS-

NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide. For further information go to http://www.neca.asn.au.

NECA CEO James Tinslay is available for interviews and comments.

Media Enquiries and interviews:

Dominic Feenan Media and Communications Manager 02 9439 8523 / 0457 767 328

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