Over the next two months NECA will be running a radio advertising campaign to highlight the importance of using a qualified electrician and only installing Australia-compliant products.

“With online shopping becoming more and more popular in Australia, consumers must be even more diligent about only purchasing Australia-compliant electrical products,” NECA chief executive Suresh Manickam says.

“Safety should always win out over price. It’s one thing buying FMCG-type products over the internet. But when it comes to electrical appliances you must be sure it is made for the Australian market. Each country is different and what works perfectly in one country could be a potential fire hazard somewhere else. The recent death from using a non-compliant USB charger highlights the seriousness of getting electrical things right,” he adds.

“And only a qualified electrician can give you the full assurance you need that you are not putting yourself, and your family, at risk.”

Our campaign will run in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, with three advertisements:

1. Encouraging consumers to always use a qualified electrician;
2. Promoting the benefits of effective advocacy and industry representation ; and
3. Encouraging electrical contracting businesses to join NECA.

NECA says the industry is mainly made up by small businesses and so it is often hard for business owners to feel they are being heard. Along with the radio campaign it has launched a second video, “Dave 2”, to explain how electricians, like Dave, can have their voice heard by government and industry.