Business NSW Central Coast has welcomed an announcement that the NSW Government is slashing red tape and removing barriers for tradies to work across state and territory borders, saying it will open doors for the region’s businesses.
The Government has introduced legislation to enable a new national Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme to take effect from July 1, as agreed by National Cabinet, making it simpler and easier for tradies and other licensed professionals to carry out their work in multiple states and territories.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the changes had the potential to inject more than $2.4B into the national economy over 10 years.
“This will make it easier and less expensive for occupational licensees and businesses to perform the same activities across state borders, increasing jobs, economic activity, competition, and innovation,” Perrottet said.
“The previous system only served to discourage people from finding work and burden businesses with unnecessary regulations.
Workers will be allowed to automatically perform the same activities covered by their occupational registration in their principal place of residence or work (home state) in another jurisdiction, without paying additional registration or renewal fees.
Business NSW Regional Director, Paula Martin, said with business and consumer confidence taking a massive hit last year as a result of government restrictions, actions that encourage business to trade across borders not only help restore confidence but create jobs with Central Coast businesses able to tender for interstate works.
“Competing for works without the additional barrier of red tape provides businesses with expansion possibilities,” Martin said.
“It would be good to see a healthy proportion of businesses with their head offices on the Central Coast deploying their staff across the nation.
“The Central Coast is home to a large construction business community with expertise ranging from home trades through to commercial.
“Being able to win projects across the country that showcase our local expertise not only helps business to recover from COVID but also provide new career pathways for our young.”
The Government has also introduced legislation to extend the relaxation of regulations brought in at the height of the pandemic to protect jobs and keep the economy ticking.
Some of the relaxed regulations have included: allowing deliveries to retail premises to occur 24 hours a day; more flexibility for businesses and communities to continue operating while practising social distancing, including through the use of digital documents and audio-visual links; and supporting communities and businesses to continue to operate or adapt through takeaway and delivery options for food and beverages.
Terry Collins