Electrical Safety Act open for consultation

Over the last 20 years, since the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the Act) was introduced in Queensland, the way Queenslanders have used and interacted with electricity has changed drastically, with many new technologies and products on the market now. These changes have also created new safety risks which need to be managed. In 2021, the Queensland Government commissioned an independent review of the Act undertaken by Dick Williams, with 83 recommendations made as part of the comprehensive report into the Act.

The recommendations deal with issues ranging from the scope of the Act and coverage of emerging energy generation and storage technologies, including solar power and batteries; electric vehicles; hydrogen-based electricity generation, storage technologies; off-grid generation; and regulatory, licensing and supply chain duties reform. In the time since the final report was provided, the Office of Industrial Relations has undertaken an analysis of which recommendations have regulatory or financial impacts to business, community and government.

The Queensland Government has released the report and is asking for feedback from all Queenslanders, including through a targeted discussion paper on three key issues from the report, as well as general feedback on all issues raised. This feedback will determine what changes will be made to the Act.

Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace said the Queensland Government wants to ensure that the Act is fit for purpose and keeps pace with changes in technology. “The key issues in the discussion paper include: the electrical safety considerations of new and emerging technologies; the changing landscape of electricity and the workforce; and electrical safety and electric vehicles. I encourage the community to have their say by providing feedback during the consultation periods, and I thank everyone who contributes,” Grace said.

Queenslanders can give their feedback on the discussion paper from 16 May to 27 June 2023, while feedback on all other issues is open until 15 August 2023.

Image credit: iStock.com/Kunakorn Rassadornyindee