MEA welcomes election result; calls for further action

The Albanese government victory has received a positive response from peak electrical body Master Electricians Australia (MEA), which congratulated the Labor government on securing its second term.

MEA CEO Kate Raymond expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities the next term presents for MEA members and the broader electrical industry.

“Federal politicians have been campaigning around the clock all year, and MEA has been equally as persistent in achieving better outcomes for our members,” Raymond said.

“We have been pushing for a cheaper national battery scheme, which resulted in Labor pledging up to a 30% discount off the cost of small-scale batteries for households and small businesses.”

The organisation will continue to advocate for interest-free loans, repayable upon sale of property, to support equitable access to small-scale batteries for all households and small businesses.

MEA has also welcomed Labor’s commitment to a 12-month extension of a $20,000 instant asset tax write-off limit for small businesses. However, it will continue to encourage implementation of the Coalition’s pledge to make the scheme permanent and increase the threshold to $50,000.

“Extending the instant asset write-off is a positive step, but what small businesses really need is certainty,” Raymond said.

“A permanent and more generous threshold would empower electrical contractors to make meaningful investments in their businesses, whether that’s new vehicles, equipment or technology, without the stress of changing tax settings year to year.”

The incoming government’s support of MEA’s call to increase apprenticeship numbers through fiscal incentives will also help boost workforce development and productivity in the electrical industry, Raymond said.

“From July 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 on top of their wage, and we hope to see this alleviate constraints imposed by the skills shortage crisis.”

However, Raymond said there was still much work to do to reduce red tape around small business and better support those supervising apprentices.

“We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the Albanese government, and will work to ensure they deliver policies that make the electrical industry an attractive, sustainable and rewarding sector to work in,” she said.

Image credit: iStock.com/LOUISE BEAUMONT