BRANCH UPDATE WayneHobson Hobson Wayne NECATAS TASPresident President NECA
2020 TO BEAND A CHALLENGING TIME FOR WITH CONTINUES 2021 NOW WELL TRULY UNDERWAY, NECAEVERYONE. MEMBERS RUNNING A BUSINESS IN THESE TIMESITHAS BEEN PARTICULARLY IN TASMANIA ARE AS BUSY AS EVER. IS PLEASING – AND DIFFICULT EVER-CHANGING RESTRICTIONS, A RELIEF –WITH THATTHE CONDITIONS IN THE INDUSTRY APPEAR TO UNCERTAINTY AND TO DOWNTURN IN THEOFECONOMY. BE HEADING BACK SOME DEGREE NORMALITY AFTER THE DISRUPTION THAT COVID-19 INFLICTED ON US LAST YEAR, THERE’S STILL SOME WAY Bill 2020 (the TO Bill),GO. which will be tabled in Our abilityALTHOUGH to work together has resulted in our state’s successful COVID-19 safe record. This is testament to the responsible and swift actions of our government, It took close to a fortnight after polling and public. Both the day the on 1Tasmanian May, but the recent state state andinfederal governments are to be election Tasmania saw the Liberal commended forto their efforts alleviate Party returned office for ato third term the impact of thePeter COVID-19 pandemic. in majority, and Gutwein re-elected as Premier. We congratulate the Premier and his teamlegislation on their renewed mandate, Upcoming changes and look forward to continuing to work One change the thatissues our industry withupcoming them to advance of our needs to be of is the would Electrical industry. Myaware expectation be Safety that very little will change in terms of our dealings with the State Government, given it’s been in office for seven years and we enjoy constructive relationships at both ministerial and executive levels. Our State Excellence Awards are now quickly approaching, and I would like to wish all the best to all of the apprentices and category entrants ahead of this year’s gala event.
State Parliament later this year. Currently, Tasmanian legislation governing electricity safety is spread three Acts that Tasmania (CBOS) across on the review of several have been and updated the 1990s. of itsnot policies codessince of conduct, having made submissions regarding the NECA has beenLicensing advocating on behalf of Occupational (Supervision of members and made a submission the Prescribed Work) Code of Practiceon 2019, Bill early 2020. andinthe Occupational Licensing (High Voltage Electrical Work – The Bill will consolidate allCertification electricity and Energisation) Code of Practice. An safety requirements, making it easier update on to ourfind progress on the firstsafety of for people and understand these reviews follows this article. At the most recent Electrical Contractor Industry Liaison (ECIL) meeting in March, a number of issues of note were discussed. These included the following:
There is a review of AS/NZS 5033 (Australian Standards for the installation of solar panels) underway. Comment on the proposed revised standard closed recently. One aspect of the review addresses the significant number of failures of DC RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PLANS isolators on installations, particularly
ELECTRICAL TRAINING IN TASMANIA
TAS BRANCH
NECA has been advising Consumer, THE TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT Building and Occupational Services FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TASTAFE’S NEW TRADES AND WATER CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE. The state and federal funded project will see the construction of a new, stateof-the-art training facility that will deliver training across a range of trades, INDUSTRYelectrical, ROADSHOWS including plumbing and water, refrigeration and air conditioning The Old Woolstore, Apartment Hotel and smart buildings technologies, Tuesday, 14 September 2021 in order to meet industry demands.
NECA TAS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Boathouse Centre
Over the past two years, NECA has Wednesday, 15 September 2021 been working with federal and state Paranaple Convention Centrequalified governments to train more Thursday, 16 meet September 2021 electricians and the demands of the
Tasmanian construction sector. This is a great opportunity for the electrotechnology industry, as the facility will have a strong focus on electrical trades, including NECA EXCELLENCE APPRENTICE AWARDS refrigeration and air&conditioning, as well asHobart access to upskilling in renewables Function and Conference Centreand hydrogen technologies. Saturday, 14 August 2021 There are currently more than 500 electrotechnology apprentices at TasTAFE For at more information andexpand to and the new site Clarence will register scan this QR code, or visit capacity and see more tradespeople www.neca.asn.au/necagroup/ trained in this key industry. content/tas-events
June 2020 2021 SEPTEMBER
