Dris proposal for national licensing of the plumbing and gasfitting occupations

1.19Overview of selected stakeholder positions

Consultation was undertaken with the IAC, the steering committee, industry, regulators, employers, employees and others.

Broadly, stakeholders support the following models (with some or little concern over aspects of that model). A number of stakeholders indicated that they supported national licensing but wanted particular amendments, without which they would prefer an alternative option, such as automatic mutual recognition or the status quo; this is reflected in Table 5.2.

A number of stakeholders sought the ‘retention’ of apprenticeship training. This is not listed in the notes to the table as there is no intention of making changes to the primacy of the apprenticeship as the key trade pathway.

Detailed comments on the various issues raised by stakeholders are outlined in Chapter 3.

Table 5.2: Selected stakeholder positions in relation to the options presented

Stakeholder	Status quo	Automatic mutual recognition	National licensing
Institute of Plumbing Australia			support^1
Master Plumbers Australia Limited			support^2
Master Plumbers Association of NSW			support^3
Master Plumbers Association of Queensland	support^4		support
Master Plumbers & Gasfitters Association Western Australia			support^5
Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia		support	support^6
Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania			support^7
National Fire Industry Association		support	support^8
Housing Industry Association			support^9
Business Council of Australia			support^10
Australian Institute of Building			support^11
Fire Protection Association Australia			support^12
Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (Plumbing Division)		support	support^13
Master Builders Australia		support	support^14

¹ Supported three tier, sub-option 1 but sought additional inclusions, such as business qualifications to be included for contractors, water plumbing work to include fire hydrant and hose reel work, independent testing following completion of qualification, inclusion of skills maintenance.

² Supported three tier, sub-option 1.

³ Supported three tier, sub-option 1 but, if this is not recommended, then sub-option 2 (reflecting the current licensing model for NSW). Sought inclusion of medical gas work, roof plumbing and stormwater work and skills maintenance.

⁴ Supported three tier, sub-option 1, but sought additional inclusions, such as contractors to hold Certificate IV qualification, independent testing following completion of qualification, inclusion of skills maintenance, inclusion of medical gas work, mechanical services and roof plumbing.

⁵ Supported the status quo as its preferred option, but also stated that it supported the option of national licensing (three tier, sub-option2) but is concerned for certain ‘protective safeguards’ and if these cannot be adequately maintained, then the … status quo should be maintained’. The submission also indicated support for automatic mutual recognition. The protective safeguards include, but are not limited to, retention of some current endorsements which are available in Queensland only, inclusion of medical gas work, roof plumbing and stormwater work and inclusion of skills maintenance.

⁶ Supported three tier options as alternative to automatic mutual recognition. Submission supported need for full licensees and contractors to hold business competencies and sought inclusion of medical gas work, mechanical services, roof plumbing and stormwater work.

⁷ Supported three tier, sub-option 1 but sought number of additional inclusions including independent testing following completion of qualification, inclusion of medical gas work, roof plumbing and stormwater work, irrigation, on-site, inclusion of skills maintenance.

⁸ Supported automatic mutual recognition but also the three tier national licensing model as an alternative. Sought inclusion of medical gas work, mechanical services, roof plumbing and stormwater work and inspect and test work for fire protection systems.

⁹ Supported two tier option

¹⁰ Supported two tier option and questions need to licence contractors.

¹¹ Sought inclusion of skills maintenance.

¹² Supported three tier option but sought inclusion of greater range of fire protection licences, including an inspect and test licence.

¹³ Supported three tier, sub-option 2. Submission sought commissioning to be included in all classes of plumbing and gasfitting work but also inclusion of medical gas work, ducting, roof plumbing and stormwater work.

¹⁴ Supported automatic mutual recognition unless national licensing reform is more comprehensive, streamlined and rationalised.