National occupational licensing reforms discussed at roundtable

Ai Group has joined government ministers in a roundtable meeting in Canberra to consider the Government's National Occupation Licensing System reforms.

Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans and Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong attended the roundtable.

"Industry consultations held in Canberra focused on the critical need to deliver long overdue national licensing for certain trade occupations which will boost our productivity and deliver the greater labour mobility our economy desperately needs," said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox.

"There are countless examples of companies operating across state and territory borders which run up against licensing brick walls which act as barriers to employment and growth. The existing system of mutual recognition and state-based licences is problematic for industry. It impedes the mobility of labour, potentially increases the incidence of jurisdiction shopping, leads to duplication, confusion, lost productivity and additional costs for both employers and individuals."

Willox believes the removal of overlapping and inconsistent regulation between states and territories for the licensing of a number of specific occupations would improve business efficiency and the competitiveness of the national economy, reduce red tape, improve labour mobility and enhance productivity.

The Ai Group recommends that the COAG Taskforce takes a stand to ensure national consistency by removing the option in the intergovernmental agreement for jurisdictions not being required to adopt a national licence category that is not currently regulated by that jurisdiction.