Minister for Fair Trading Virginia Judge is encouraging tradespeople and consumers to have their say on laws protecting NSW families from unsafe electrical products and shoddy work.

Ms Judge said issues raised by industry and the community would be taken into consideration as part of a review of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004.

“It only takes a heartbeat for non-compliant electrical goods or dodgy work to take a life,” Ms Judge said.

“My number one priority as Minister is to see that products and services supplied to NSW consumers are safe and fit for purpose.

“The Act protects consumers and tradespeople by enforcing national standards for electrical installation work and removing unapproved and unsafe electrical products from the marketplace.

“It also gives Fair Trading the power to get rid of the cowboys and uphold the reputation of properly qualified and licensed tradespeople.

“I want to ensure that it continues to provide appropriate protection for the community and operates effectively for the 55,655 electrical trade license holders in NSW.”

In 2009, $57,869 in fines and penalties were issued under the Act. Convictions against15 traders were secured.

Ms Judge said the review would consider the appropriateness of the Act’s current definitions of “electrical installation” and “electrical installation work”, as well as:

• requirements for compliance certificates
• requirements for moveable and mobile dwellings
• reporting of serious electrical accidents
• administrative arrangements for the legislation and
• penalties and enforcement and investigative powers

Submissions to the review will close on Monday, 17 May 2010.

The issues paper and more information is available at this webiste.

Submissions should be sent via email to policy@services.nsw.gov.au or standard mail to: Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act Review, Fair Trading Policy Division, Department of Services, Technology and Administration, PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2124.

Back to Media releases