Dris proposal for national licensing of the electrical occupations

66Consultation

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) requires that all significant regulatory processes are developed in accordance with its principles for best practice regulatory process. This includes thorough, wide-ranging and timely consultation with affected stakeholders. The purpose of consultation on the national licensing reform is to meet this requirement by providing mechanisms for stakeholders in the electrical occupations to consider the options developed for national licensing reform, and to comment on them.

A Consultation RIS outlining policy proposals for the establishment of a national licensing system for the electrical occupations was released on 13 August 2012 and published on the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) website at www.nola.gov.au. Stakeholders, including relevant national and state organisations, members of the Interim Advisory Committee, regulator working groups and those who had expressed interest in the development of national licensing, were directly notified of the release of the Consultation RIS. In total approximately 2,000 people were directly notified of its release.

The policy contained in the Consultation RIS was developed by the Electrical Occupations Interim Advisory Committee (IAC) during a series of meetings which took place throughout 2010–11. The IAC comprised representatives from industry, employer and employee associations, the training sector, regulators, and the consumer advocacy sector. The Consultation RIS also contained policy developed by, or on behalf of, the National Licensing Steering Committee. The Steering Committee, which oversaw the policy development process, comprised of representatives from jurisdictional central agencies.

National framework legislation through the Occupational Licensing National Law Act 2010 (the National Law) has been passed in six jurisdictions (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory) to establish national licensing. During the policy development process it became clear that some amendments to the National Law will be required.

Draft national licensing legislation, including legislation in relation to the electrical occupations, was released on 14 September 2012 and was also the subject of the consultation process. The legislation was based on the policy developed by the IAC. A total of 1,106 submissions were received.

66.1Public information sessions

Public information sessions, explaining the policy options and inviting comment, were held in every state and territory between 29 August and 25 September 2012. The information sessions were promoted through emails to registered subscribers, advertisements in major metropolitan newspapers, and through the NOLA website. A total of 333 individuals attended the information sessions. Details of the locations and numbers of attendees are outlined in Table 5.1 below.

The information sessions provided an opportunity for the COAG National Licensing Taskforce to outline the proposed arrangements, answer questions on aspects of the reforms, and listen to views and comments from those attending.

Table 5.1: Consultation Meetings

Location	Date	Organisations present	Government representatives	Total attendees
Sydney	Thursday 13 September 2012	Australian Industry Group Electrical Trade Union National Electrical and Communications Association Communications Electrical Plumbing Union National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association Canberra Institute of Technology ISSWorld Australia Endeavour Energy Ampcontrol Group Alstom CSE-Universe Australia Coca-Cola Amatil Leighton Contractors Canon Australia Grosvenor Engineering All Basic Electrical Emergencies Fire Safe NZ Tyco International TAFE NSW Safety Connect Australia	National Occupational Licensing Authority WorkCover Authority of NSW Australian Skills Quality Authority Department of Industry and Investment NSW Department of Finances and Services NSW Building Professionals Board NSW Fair Trading Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet	43
Melbourne	Tuesday 11 September 2012	Australian Industry Group Master Electricians Australia National Electrical and Contractors Association Australian Gas Association Victoria University United Energy 24:7 Lock, Alarm and Electrical Gordon TAFE Australia Post CitiPower/Powercor Crisplant RMIT University	Energy Safe Victoria Department of Primary Industries Victoria Air Services Australia Department of Treasury and Finance Victoria	28
Brisbane*	Thursday 20 September 2012	Electrical Contractors Association Master Electricians Australia EE-Oz Training Standards Energy Skills Queensland BHP Billiton Skillstech Australia Origin Energy Queensland Rail Energex Siemens MOFFAT Fisher & Paykel Ricoh Office Printers Century Yuasa Batteries LogiCamms Protech Power – Electro-technology Griffith University TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Institute of TAFE Southbank Institute of Technology Ergon Energy Suncorp Raytheon Australia Queensland Rail Home Brisbane Refrigeration Queensland Performing Arts Centre Stanwell Corporation EMN Electrical JJ Richards & Sons J & P Richardson Industries DWE Veolia Downer Edi Engineering Monadel Miele Pritab I & I Electrical Unique Services Indacom Group John Scates Electrical Kilnworxs Pty Ltd Applied Electro Powermax Electrical and Maintenance NHP Electrical Engineering Products Container Works Varian Medical Systems Electrolux Name Products AngloAmerican Demag Cranes and Components Jims Test and Tag First National Neilson Partners Futron Electrical Easternwell Energy Ramsay Health Care Invensys Rail Baronial Q Electrical Bill Kat Services	Department of Justice and Attorney-General Queensland Queensland Health Department of Education, Training and Employment Department of Transport and Main Roads Qld Department of Natural Resources and Mines Qld Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Department of Defence Australian Skills Quality Authority	102
Perth	Tuesday 25 September 2012	Australian Mechanical Contractors Association (WA) Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia National Electrical and Communications Association (WA) Master Electricians Engineering and Automotive Training Council Institute of Electrical Inspectors Electrical. Utilities and Public Administration Training Council Training Accreditation Council Central TAFE College of Electrical Training Challenger Institute of Technology Electrical Group Training ABB Australia Appliance Services Auto Control Systems BAE Systems Canon Australia Rio Tinto KBR AE Smith Centigrade Air-conditioning and Ventilation ComSpark Custom Electrics Electcraft Electrics Fortescue Metals Group Horizon Power ICM Group Macmahon Holdings Ltd Monadelphous PTWM Power On Electrix RCK Power Pty Ltd RCR Tomlinson Ltd Tasman Power TPE Services JayCam Industries Schindler Lifts Polytechnic West Focused Recruitment McGill Engineering Water Corporation Western Power Western Air Maps Williams Electrical Service	Department of Commerce WA Department of Training and Workforce Development WA	73
Adelaide	Wednesday 12 September 2012	Australian Mechanical Contractors Association SA National Electrical and Communications Association SA Business SA SA Power Networks TAFE SA Adelaide Training and Employment Centre PEER VET APC Viterra Malt Power and Water Corporation BHP Billiton Canon	Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology SA Attorney-General’s Department SA Office of the Technical Regulator SA	32
Hobart	Wednesday 19 September 2012	Australian Mechanical Contractors Association Electrical Testing and Compliance Service Pacific Services Group Visionstream Integrated Electrical Technologies Pen Enterprises Powercor Hydro Tasmania B&C Laning Electrical Exit Ceft	Australian Skills Quality Authority Skills Tasmania Department of Justice Tasmania	23
Canberra	Friday 31 August 2012	Electrical Trades Union Communications Electrical Plumbing Union EO Electrotechnology Energy Advisory Board ABnote Australiasia NECA Group Training Affinity Electrical Technologies Canberra Institute of Technology Contractor Hydro-Electrics Brookfield Multiplex EEAB ASDD Construction Services	ACT Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education ACT Planning and Land Authority NSW Fair Trading	23
Darwin	Tuesday 4 September 2012	Dancs Engineering Solar Electrical Services Essential Technologies Australia	NT Government	9

*The Brisbane session was also webcast through the Queensland Treasury website.