Australia's state, territory and Commonwealth treasurers recently met to discuss national productivity reforms, following several Productivity Commission inquiries to which MEA provided detailed submissions. A core theme from the meeting was clear: "streamlining approvals and reducing red tape to save tradies time and money".
Key topics of discussion at the meeting included:
- National Occupational Licensing (NOL), prioritising electricians
- Support for skilled migrants
- Boost housing supply
- Road user charging
MEA welcomes the collective commitment from treasurers to lift Australia's productivity and urges governments to ensure these reforms meaningfully support tradies, particularly electrical workers, who sit at the heart of Australia's housing, infrastructure and clean-energy priorities.
MEA continues to advocate for practical, productivity-boosting reforms, including:
- Tax Reform – Backing a 20% SME corporate tax rate, while pushing for a higher permanent Instant Asset Write-Off and retention of interest deductibility (rather than a blanket 5% Net Cash Flow tax).
- Regulation – Calling for better support to help small businesses stay compliant, while cutting unnecessary rules and red tape that create overburdensome compliance.
- Workforce – Recommending direct financial support for small businesses training apprentices, stronger supervisor incentives, and protecting electrical industry entry requirements supported by a National Occupational Licensing (NOL) eligibility framework.
- Energy Transition -Unlocking the potential of bi-directional EV chargers, rooftop solar and batteries.
