Cutting corners !

It certainly makes sense to try and get common standards that apply across all Australian states and territories.  The education system is a prime example of this need.  At present, we have eight entirely different education curriculum's to confuse and dismay any child who needs to change states during their school years.

Unfortunately, setting a common standard often results in a " one size fits all " approach, and this can be disastrous if it reduces safety standards.  Efforts are underway to create a common electrical licensing regulator for the entire country - and there are claims that this may lead to a lowering of standards.

The Master Electricians of Australia cite the deaths that occurred when the government rolled out the home insulation scheme.   Four people died in roof cavities because of a lack of regulations to adequately supervise the installation of insulation material, and there followed a spate of  disastrous house fires.

Many factors are crystal clear with hindsight - and hindsight always has 20-20 vision.

The initial draft of this new electrical licensing requirement seems to reduce the standards needed in some applications.  Electricity is an unseen and silent killer.   Taking even a small short cut can not only end the life of the person doing the work, it can leave behind a danger to trap the innocent householder or a family member.

Setting licensing standards for electrical work is not something to be rushed.  The government has promised to listen to the objections from the industry, but it all depends on the qualifications of those who will do this " listening ".

If this becomes the decision made by politicians, then we are all in trouble.  The same applies to decision making by groups of bureaucrats.  What sounds perfectly reasonable to a person untrained in the mysteries of wiring and electrical currents can be deadly dangerous if put into practice.

The final decision on these standards need an industry review, and probably the Master Electricians of Australia is the most qualified organization to do that job.
If they err on the side of caution - that would be a far better result - than the alternative !