MEA has lodged a series of submissions in response to the Federal Government’s Productivity Consultations, which seek to identify actionable ways to boost productivity across Australia.

Small electrical businesses are vital to Australia’s construction industry. That’s why MEA continues to advocate for reform measures that encourage financial investment, cut red tape, and fast-track workforce development to meet rising demand.

Key priorities raised by MEA include:

• National licensing harmonisation – A call for the Federal Government to implement a nationally harmonised occupational licensing model for the electrical, fire, and HVAC industries, alongside the harmonisation of electrical contractor licensing across states and territories.
• Free access to Australian Standards – Ensuring equitable and cost-free access to standards essential for compliance, safety, and innovation.
• Targeted tax reform, including:
  • Making the instant asset tax write-off permanent and increasing the cap
  • Reducing the small business company tax rate
  • Developing an industry-specific repayment framework to overcome rigid ATO repayment terms
  • Providing support tools to help small businesses set aside funds for year-end tax obligations
• Comprehensive review of insurance regulations – Ensuring the sector is not burdened by unnecessary complexity and cost.
• Security of Payment and unfair contract reform – Addressing delays and imbalances in construction payment practices and strengthening protections against unfair contract terms.
• Workforce development, including:
  • Increased support for employers taking on apprentices
  • Lowered supervision ratios
  • Boosted teaching and training capacity across the VET sector
• Support for Consumer Energy Resources (CER) adoption – Including solar, small-scale batteries, and bi-directional EV chargers.
• Support for compliance with the Privacy Act and encouraging the responsible integration of AI in construction.

These reforms are essential to unlocking the full productivity potential of small businesses in the construction sector, especially those who are doing the heavy lifting in electrical, energy, and infrastructure delivery.

📄 You can read MEA’s consultation responses below:

• National Competition Policy Analysis
• Creating a More Dynamic and Resilient Economy
• Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
• Harnessing Dat and Digital Technology
• Investing in Cheaper, Cleaner Energy and the Net Zero Transformation