National electrical licensing scheme: feedback invited

The Australian Government has opened up a Treasury consultation to help design a national licensing scheme for electrical occupations.

The consultation period is open until 26 September 2025, and invites feedback on a range of issues, including the barriers or challenges electricians face when working outside of their home state; lessons from earlier attempts at national licensing; what kinds of electrical work to include in the scheme; and design options for the scheme.

The scheme is being set up to enable electrical tradespeople to work seamlessly across state and territory borders without reapplying for a separate licence or paying additional fees. By removing unnecessary barriers, it aims to encourage highly skilled electrical workers to go where they are needed most in the industry, eg, in housing construction and clean energy.

As the scheme relates to high‑risk occupations, it will address the need for high standards, while cutting red tape, delays and multiple fees for tradespeople, the government said.

The consultation has been hailed by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) as a welcome next step towards a national electrical license that maintains the highest standard and reflects industry best practices.

With the energy transition demanding more electrical workers in more parts of the country than at any time in the nation’s history, the ETU said a single high-quality national licence would be a key part of ensuring that Australia can train, build and maintain Australia’s energy transition over the coming decades.

A national licence would also embed greater community understanding of the quality and importance of work performed by licensed electricians, the ETU said.

ETU National Secretary Michael Wright.

ETU National Secretary Michael Wright said electrical workers had long campaigned for a high-quality national licence through the ETU.

“People working in our industry want a licence that protects their safety, ensures the quality of their work and serves as a seal of confidence to members of the public across the country that electrical work has been performed by a licensed professional who has been trained to the highest standard,” Wright said.

“As we train the electrical professionals needed to transition our energy systems to net zero, we need them to be able to go where their skills are most needed with a licence that is nationally recognised and understood.

Wright cautioned that a national regime must put safety and quality at the centre of its design, reflecting best practice from across the country — it must not be composed of existing lowest common denominators in sub-national jurisdictions.

“Electrical workers look forward to engaging with Treasury, state and territory governments, and industry to ensure that the Australian national electrical licence is a world-leading qualification for our trade,” he said.

Top image credit: iStock.com/LOUISE BEAUMONT