Red tape busted to mobilise interstate tradies for flood recovery effort

The NSW Government has cut red tape to allow more interstate tradespeople to work in NSW, fast tracking repairs for homes, businesses, and schools damaged by natural disasters.

From today this will include licensed interstate workers including plumbers, gasfitters, architects, surveyors, driving instructors and bus drivers. Licences and registrations will be recognised if workers notify NSW regulators before starting work.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the changes will ensure qualified and registered tradies from participating states can work in NSW sooner, supporting a more timely response to future natural disasters and addressing critical labour shortages.

“We’re making it easier and cheaper for interstate chippies, plumbers, and brickies to come to NSW and help with the flood recovery effort,” Mr Kean said.

“The NSW and Commonwealth Governments committed more than $3.5 billion to rebuild homes, businesses and infrastructure in flood-affected regions. And we’re also making it cheaper for local tradies wanting to work in these communities.”

The exemption from having to apply for a NSW licence, or pay additional registration or renewal fees, is part of a national move to boost the mobility of skilled workers across borders under the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme.

Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading Victor Dominello said the NSW Government had worked closely with industry to ensure proper protections for tradies and their customers.

“Recognising interstate registrations will boost skills and provide greater competition, which can deliver more choice, lower prices and improved service quality for consumers

“For tradies – many of whom are small business owners – it will reduce the administration costs of running and growing their businesses and will allow them to move to where the work is.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy said local tradies and the cities, towns, and communities along the NSW-Victorian border would benefit from the cut to red tape.

“We cross the Murray River every day for our business and personal lives – automatic mutual recognition of trades just makes sense,” he said.

“Floods have had a devastating impact on many farmers, businesses and residents in our region and this new level of cooperation between states to remove additional fees and fast track tradies to work on both sides of the border could not come at a better time to help people and businesses get back on their feet.”

All states and territories except Queensland are participating in the AMR scheme.

View Service NSW transactions for the Automatic Mutual Recognition scheme.

View a full list of all trades and professions in the AMR scheme.