Dris proposal for national licensing of the plumbing and gasfitting occupations

1.17National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA)

Following the close of submissions, NOLA convened an Interim Plumbing and Gasfitting Occupational Licensing Advisory Committee (OLAC) to provide comments on the policy options outlined in the Consultation RIS. Membership of the Plumbing and Gasfitting OLAC comprised a range of industry representatives similar to that of the IACs.

The OLAC provided advice to NOLA on where, from an industry perspective, amendments might be appropriate to ensure an effective national licensing system. NOLA also convened meetings of relevant state and territory regulators to consider the issues raised by the OLACs.

1.18Submission Summary

A total of 1339 submissions were received on the Consultation RIS, with 242 people attending the information sessions on the plumbing and gasfitting occupations which were held in capital cities in each of the states and territories. The submissions contained a high number of form letter (template) responses, a large number of which were from respondents in Victoria (responses originating in Victoria accounted for approximately 62 per cent of all hard copy (non-online survey) responses and 54.6 per cent of the total responses). A significant number of non-Victoria submissions, from Master Plumbers’ Association members, were variants on a form template developed by the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association, and more than 40 per cent of all responses came from Master Plumbers’ Associations. Of the 992 hard copy responses received, only 6 per cent did not form part of a more widely organised response.

The majority of responses from industry associations sought to increase regulatory requirements in a number of areas, and state-based associations sought to retain existing state licences and regulated work. Responses from the irrigation and pump industries accounted for over 120 submissions nationally.

Table 5.1: Consultation meetings

Location	Date	Organisations Present	Total Attendees
Sydney	14 September	Master Plumbers Association of NSW Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council LPG Australia Australian Standards and Qualifications Australian Building Codes Board WORMALD	23
Melbourne	11 September	Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia Ltd National Fire Industry Association Master Plumbers Association – Vic Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union Irrigation Australia Ltd Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council Training organisations	37
Brisbane	20 September	Australian Skills Quality Authority Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union Irrigation Australia National Fire Industry Association Queensland Health Master Plumbers Association QLD Building Codes QLD	47
Perth	25 September	Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association - WA Training Accreditation Council - WA Institute of Plumbing Australia Training organisations – Challenger Institute, SWIT, Polytechnic West Energy Safety WA Department of Training and Workforce WA Department of Commerce Gas companies	36
Adelaide	12 September	Plumbing Industry Association – SA Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union TAFE SA PEER VEET Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors Association – SA	21
Hobart	19 September	Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia Ltd Australian Skills Quality Authority Master Plumbers Association Tasmania Skills Tasmania	17
Canberra	31 August	Construction Industry and Property Services Industry Skills Council NSW Plumbers Union	14
Darwin	4 September	Construction Industry and Property Services Industry Skills Council	47