Licensing

Licensing of occupations has its basis in the protection of consumer rights. The reasons for licensing plumbers are broader than this and recognise the importance of high quality, efficient plumbing systems in protecting the health of the public and the environment.

States and Territories, who are responsible for consumer issues and health in Australia, maintain licensing systems for plumbing to ensure that plumbing work is only carried out by those who are qualified and competent to carry out that particular scope of work. Licensing in New Zealand is administered by one central body.

For more information on licensing in your jurisdiction or to find out if your plumber is licensed see:

• ACT: www.actpla.act.gov.au
• NSW: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
• New Zealand: www.pgdb.co.nz
• Northern Territory : www.nt.gov.au/lands/building/
• Queensland: www.dip.qld.gov.au
• South Australia: www.ocba.sa.gov.au
• Tasmania: www.wst.tas.gov.au/building
• Victoria: www.pic.vic.gov.au
• Western Australia: www.plumbers.wa.gov.au

Harmonisation

The NPRF, through its Licensing and Education Advisory Committee (LEAC) is progressing the harmonisation of the regulatory systems for licensing. This means that training outcomes and licensing scopes would be consistent across jurisdictions, and that a licence issued in one jurisdiction would be transportable to another.  

Mutual Recognition

A significant step was made towards minimising the process of obtaining a licence for plumbers moving between Australian jurisdictions with the development of the Ministerial Declaration in February 2007, which covers plumbing occupations. NPRF members formed a major part of the Plumbing Occupations Action Group that worked with the COAG Skills Recognition Taskforce to identify equivalent licences. Plumbers can access the matrix at www.licencerecognition.gov.au and check if they are provisionally entitled to a registration equivalent in another jurisdiction.

Mutual recognition between Australia and New Zealand is covered by the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement.

National Licensing

A proposal to develop a national licensing system is currently under consideration by COAG. While the NPRF supports nationally portable licences for plumbers, this must be done with recognition of the distinctiveness of the plumbing industry and maintain the avenues for industry input into regulation currently in place. To read about COAG’s proposal go to www.coag.gov.au