News & Views

Queensland’s current electrical safety laws were last reviewed in 2002 when the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) (the Act) was first introduced.  Since this time the relevant technological landscape has changed significantly, with electricity generation, supply and distribution transforming in ways not contemplated 20 years ago.

In light of these concerns, the Queensland Government has initiated a review of how to ensure Queensland’s electrical safety laws are fit-for-purpose, specifically in relation to keeping pace with new and emerging technologies.

The review will specifically consider the following:

• All definitions under the Act to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• All duties and requirements under the Act and regulation, including on suppliers and generating entities, to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• How the Act may be future-proofed for other emerging energy technologies, including renewable energy generation and storage devices.
• Aligning the provisions of the Act with Queensland’s work health and safety legislative scheme under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld).
• How any recommendations resulting from the review will create public value by enhancing Queensland’s electrical safety framework (increasing the net benefit to the community through evidence-based legislative and/or regulatory change).

To commence the process the government has appointed a reviewer, who has established an Industry Reference Group, on which NECA is represented and begun to hold public consultation forums. The reviewer has released a discussion paper calling for submissions by 18 April 2021 here.

NECA encourages all members to have a read of the discussion paper and to provide any comments or suggestions back to Peter Lamont in NECA at peter.lamont@neca.asn.au.

Otherwise, talk to your Queensland Membershp Manager Chris Gradwell.

NECA will prepare a submission on behalf of members to provide to the review. Members are also encouraged to prepare their own submissions and send them directly to the reviewer. Details are contained in the discussion paper.

NECA will of course continue to keep members fully up-to-date on matters as the review progresses and in how members can have any further say.

The survey that follows seeks members views on some of the matters already raised with the review team as well as some matters already raised by NECA members and staff.

The survey ends midnight tonight - have your say now!