The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has welcomed the federal government’s announcement to introduce a national licensing scheme for electrical trades people.
ARC is calling on the government to include refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) technicians with restricted electrical licences in the reforms.
The 2025–26 Budget will enable the design and implementation of the national licensing scheme through the National Competition Policy (NCP) framework.
The government has committed $900 million to the National Productivity Fund to drive NCP reforms.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said national licensing will enable people in electrical trades to work seamlessly across state and territory borders without reapplying for a separate licence or paying additional fees.
“By removing unnecessary barriers, this scheme will encourage highly skilled electrical workers to go where they are needed most in the industry, like in housing construction and clean energy,” he said.
“Of all the construction trades, more workers are employed in electrical services than any other, accounting for around one in seven workers in construction.”
Productivity Commission modelling shows that reforming occupational licensing across a range of industries could provide significant benefits, including a boost to economic output of up to $10.3 billion.
The previous government abandoned a national license scheme agreed with states and territories at their first Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting under then Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2013.
National licensing will allow electrical professionals to work seamlessly across state and territory borders without the need to reapply for separate licences or pay additional fees. However, ARC said it should also include restricted electrical licence holders which will ultimately contribute to Australia’s net-zero emissions goals.
RAC equipment accounts for over 24 per cent of energy consumed in Australia and contributes more than two per cent to the nation’s GDP.
National electrical and communications associations (NECA) have long campaigned for this reform, with the full support of ARC.
“This is a major win for our industry, and one that NECA’s national executive specifically identified as a policy priority,” NECA said in a statement earlier today.
ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said the government should be commended for recognising the value of national licensing.
"This national licensing reform is a significant step forward, it’s crucial that restricted electrical licences be included to ensure flexibility and mobility across borders,” Evans said.