Electrical Connection Summer 2016

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78 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON SUMME R 20 1 6
A word from the CEO
Summer is now upon us and as 2016 draws
to a close, it’s timely to reflect on the year
that’s past, the issues that continue to face
the electrical contracting industry and what
we can expect for 2017.
As you may be aware, NECA has been
calling on the Senate to ratify two pieces
of legislation that we believe will benefit
Australia’s electrical contractors – the
re-introduction of the Australian Building
and Construction Commission (ABCC)
and the establishment of the Registered
Organisations Commission. NECA believes
that both measures would deliver a range
of benefits for our sector such as lower
levels of industrial action and lost work days,
increased transparency and governance
through stronger regulatory oversight and
standards for public officers, increased
penalties for engagement in coercion and
unlawful behaviour, lower construction costs
and ultimately, more jobs.
Similarly, reform of the Vocational
Education and Training sector has been
another key theme for NECA. Sadly, we
have all heard and read about the stories
and scandals that have plagued the quality
of VET training and the failures of policy that
has led to concerns with the VET FEE-HELP
and training colleges signing up students
with offers of free laptops. The future role
of the Australian Skills and Qualifications
Authority (ASQA) in overseeing the training
standards and quality remains critical and
we look forward to further announcements
from the Government that help to restore
credibility and confidence.
Apprenticeship training has always
been a key part of NECA’s DNA and
following on from our successful work last
year with the Energy Industry Apprentice
Progression Management System Project,
the Federal Government has announced the
establishment of the Alternative Delivery Pilot
program to further support the delivery of
entry level and qualified trades people into
the labour market. The pilots are designed to
learn more about opportunities and barriers
to increased industry usage, enhance
skills development and the acceptance
and validation of alternative apprenticeship
training delivery arrangements. NECA has
been selected by the Government to deliver
this program on behalf of the electrical and
communications sector. Further information
about the program can be found at https://
alt-del-pilots
An important part of our ongoing
advocacy work with the Federal Government
was the release of our 2016 Policy
Statement in June. Whilst this may seem
like a particularly dry part of what we do,
I believe it’s important for any member-
focussed organisation to be advocating
and articulating the concerns and views of
its members. Our statement refreshes and
builds upon last year’s initial version, adding
new policy themes including Renewable
Energy, Security of Payments, Building
and Contents Insurance, Competency
Based Wage Progression and Home Safety
and Energy Audits. NECA’s 2016 Policy
Statement may be viewed at http://neca.
In July, the Tasmanian Government
introduced Continuous Professional
Development (CPD) for occupational license
holders, meaning that Electrical Contractors
are now required to maintain and develop
their skills through ongoing learning
activities. The Government has allowed
an initial two-year window for licensees to
familiarise themselves with the CPD scheme.
During this time, licensees will be required
to familiarise themselves with the scheme
and undertake further CPD course studies
but will not have to accrue any CPD points.
Once the CPD scheme comes into full
effect from 1 July 2018, licensees will need
to accrue 12 CPD points per annum or 36
CPD points (on the basis of one point, per
hour over a three-year licence).
NECA has worked closely with the
Tasmanian Government to finalise the
details of the CPD scheme and as the
peak industry body for the state’s electrical
contractors, was selected as the Facilitator
for the delivery of the program. The CPD
scheme was launched in Launceston and
Hobart by the Minister for Building and
Construction, the Hon. Guy Barnett MP and
provides Tasmania’s electrical contractors
with a strong opportunity to strengthen their
skills and activities across the state. For
more information about the Tasmanian CPD
scheme for electrical contractors, please
visit
Following our very successful South
African conference, NECA is pleased to
advise that we will be celebrating our
Centenary conference back on home soil, at
the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort in
tropical North Queensland from 14-17 July
2017. The 100 year event will be another
great opportunity to learn more about
our industry and to network with fellow
representatives, members and industry
supporters, right on the doorstep of one
of the seven wonders of the natural world,
the Great Barrier Reef, and the Daintree
Rainforest - Australia’s largest continuous
area of tropical rainforest. NECA will have
further details for this event in the not too
distant future and I am looking forward to
seeing you in Tropical North Queensland
next July.
Best regards,
Suresh Manickam