Kick start to national licensing scheme

The initial work on a new national licensing scheme for electricians and electrical contractors began its long journey yesterday.

NECA was appointed by the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations to the Electrical Licensing Advisory Committee, to advise the National Licensing Board. The initial meeting of the advisory committee took place on Thursday 19 November.

The electrical contracting community has long been burdened by a state licensing system, which created barriers to working across state borders. Numerous attempts have been made to achieve national consistency over many years but these have been profoundly unsuccessful for electrical contractor licences.

It is anticipated that the new system will commence operation in July 2012. While some way into the future, this recognises the work involved in setting a single set of requirements from the existing very different licensing regimes and bureaucracies across eight jurisdictions.

NECA and the ETU have raised concerns about the representation of some industry groups on the advisory committee, given that some groups are marginal to the vast majority of electrical licence holders.

NECA intends to vigorously pursue a national outcome that supports free movement for electricians and electrical contractors between all states and territories.

Yet another fatality highlights dangers of poor insulation training

The fatal electrocution yesterday of a 16-year-old boy in Rockhampton who was installing insulation again highlights the urgency of new training requirements in the proper installation of insulation, currently being implemented by the Federal Government, and the adequate supervision of inexperienced or untrained workers.

In the past three weeks, and in the wake of another fatality in Queensland, NECA has lobbied the Federal Government for additional training of insulation installers, highlighting the dangers to the government and consumers of improper installation practices, particularly where electrical wiring is present.

"We acknowledge the government's efforts to implement better training of insulation installers, as part of its stimulus measures, and also acknowledge that the government has moved very quickly to implement a new training package," said James Tinslay, NECA National CEO. "However, time is of the essence in determining how far the training will go, and in getting it to market as quickly as possible, as highlighted yet again."

Currently, the onus is on the person who has been trained and accredited in insulation installation to supervise any workers who are not trained. "In theory this should be adequate, however, in practice it is not," Mr Tinslay said.

NECA also recognises that the government's ban on metal fixings will improve safety, however, more awareness of the dangers of electrical wiring was critical.

Strong support for Senator Fielding's stance on ABCC

NECA strongly supports Senator Steve Fielding's stance on retention of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in its current form, ahead of the Federal Government's bid to significantly reduce the scope of its powers.

As reported in The Age this week, Labor's election promise to abolish the building industry watchdog by next February looks set for defeat with Senator Fielding and the Opposition saying they will not support the changes.

Senator Fielding was reported as adamant he will not budge from his hard line. This could see this important workplace reform remain in place.

NECA refuted the findings in the report on the ABCC by retired Justice Murray Wilcox, released on 3 April this year, that there was no need for special penalties for the building industry above other industries and met with Senator Fielding then to seek his support for retention of the ABCC.

"NECA's submission to the Wilcox Review highlighted the fact that it was just five years ago that the final report of the Cole Royal Commission documented the widespread cultural disregard for the 'rule of law' and inappropriate industrial behaviour," Mr Tinslay said.

"During this time, the 'tough cop' stance of the ABCC has significantly improved practices in the workplace. There has not, however, been a cultural change and the building industry could quickly slide back into the productivity and disputation hole from which it came."

"Much of the powers of the ABCC were designed to improve practices in the building industry, an important sector which has a major economic flow-on-effect to the wider community. We believe it would be a brave Federal Government that would overturn the findings of a Royal Commission just five years on, particularly in the current unstable economic climate."

With just two sitting weeks of Parliament remaining this year, it is unlikely the bill will pass without Senator Fielding's support.