The ACT Government has opened consultation on a proposal to extend trade licensing to additional trades to enable more quality homes and support a skilled, safe construction workforce, with a discussion paper released this week.
The Government says early analysis indicates several currently unlicensed trades including carpentry, concreting, brick laying, and waterproofing should be prioritised – particularly where poor workmanship can lead to structural damage, safety risks, or costly rectification for homeowners.
Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development, Chris Steel said strengthening building quality is essential as the Government progresses towards its target of enabling 30,000 new homes by 2030.
“At the election ACT Labor committed to strong building and construction regulatory regime including extending licencing to high risk trades,” Minister Steel said.
“As we enabling thousands of new homes for Canberrans, we need a workforce with the skills and qualifications to ensure these homes are well-built.
“Improving building quality, strengthening consumer protections, and supporting a skilled local workforce are key to meeting our housing targets.
“Buying a home is the most significant financial decision most Canberrans are likely to make in their lifetime, so it’s crucial that homes are built to a rigorous standard, and that licensed tradespeople skills are appropriately recognised.”
While many trades in the ACT, such as builders, electricians, plumbers and gasfitters are already licensed, many other trades operate with no formal licensing requirements and lower qualification standards, contributing to quality issues and a higher number of defects during construction.
“These reforms are about making sure that we have a qualified and professional workforce backed by a practical regulatory framework that supports industry and consumers alike,” Minister Steel said.
“We are supporting productivity in the construction sector, and that’s crucial to meeting our housing goals. By extending licensing, we recognise the value of skilled and experienced workers, encourage apprenticeship completion, reduce disputes, and avoid costly rework on job sites.”
The proposed reforms will also support workforce mobility across borders, better aligning the ACT with other jurisdictions like NSW and reducing costs for tradies and businesses to operate.
“We will put in place clear transition pathways for apprentices and experienced workers, giving employers greater certainty about skill availability across Canberra and our region,” Minister Steel said.
“It’s vitally important that we hear from tradies, businesses and the people who rely on these services on how our proposed changes will impact them. We want a system that lifts standards and is equitable for all Canberrans.”
The construction industry has been broadly supportive of extending occupational licencing to date, but their feedback is now sought on implementation and design, including how qualifications are assessed, how scopes of work are defined and how licensing can support day‑to‑day business operations without unnecessary red tape.
Tradespeople, employers and industry stakeholders are invited to provide feedback through a targeted survey on the Extension of Trade Licensing webpage.
Consultation is open until Monday 20 April.
