The industry voice for the small business of the future

At MEA we’re working to connect master electricians to a future where their skills, rights, and businesses are fully charged.

As electricians, we’re used to dealing with complex circuits and ensuring everything runs smoothly, but when it comes to the business side of things, sometimes the wiring can seem a bit tangled. That’s where Master Electricians Australia (MEA) steps in, making sure that the business path for electricians is as clear as a well-labelled circuit diagram.

Small business is under siege, after the uncertainty of COVID and the resulting increased inflationary environment, the next few years hold the promise of a barrage of challenges. While COVID insolvency laws were relaxed, the status quo has been reinstated this year and this has led to a spike in businesses reporting financial stress.

The recent launch of the National Insolvency Helpline by Insolvency Australia speaks volumes about this financial precipice many businesses are finding themselves on. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Commissioner’s call for collaborative support highlights the need for a united front. Other statistics indicate that unpaid invoices are expected to bleed Australian SMEs dry to the tune of $22 billion, and the cash flow crisis is a looming storm.

Yet, there is so much opportunity in the electrical industry in the medium to long term, demand is surging thanks to renewable energy targets and the increased call for electrification across the country. A bright future is in sight for small businesses in this industry but only if the right voices are advocating on behalf of the collective. We need to make sure legislation for small businesses doesn’t diminish this potential.

MEA has made recent submissions in several matters that impact small businesses across Australia including but not limited to:

• NSW Draft Small Business Charter and Action Plan – Provision of feedback to affirm our general support whilst suggesting enhancements to better serve small businesses. The suggestion of additional principles that focused on skills and training development support. As well as highlighting the opportunities to address issues regarding the security of payments.
• Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Security of Payment Issues – Support of the recommendations for change and proposal of several key measures to improve the payment culture and reduce insolvencies in the industry. These measures included national consistency, inclusion of residential building work under the legislation and establishment of a Deemed Statutory Trust Scheme.
• Proposal to Amend the Small Business Commission Act 2011 – MEA supports the establishment of the South Australian Small Business Commission (SASBC) but advocates for a more interactive and centralised role for the SASBC. We stated that the SASBC should serve as a hub for small businesses to access information, advice, and support beyond the limiting assistance to upon-request scenarios.
• Senate Inquiry into Residential Electrification – MEA making the case for ongoing work for the industry into the future, with the “electrification of everything” supporting energy efficiency in the home and the installation of rooftop PV, home battery storage, home energy management systems, and the 100% electrification of heating, cooling, and cooking. We also advocated for electrical contractors to be empowered to undertake more of the metering upgrade work to speed up the smart meter roll-out.

At the end of the day government decisions can make or break small businesses, we’ve seen this time and time again, a good recent macro example is the Victorian Government’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and its impact on local businesses. It has never been more important for us to actively engage with policymakers to mitigate these effects and push for initiatives like the Small Business Energy Incentive Scheme and other schemes that significantly impact our members. It goes beyond lobbying; it’s about building the relationships and lines of communication with regulators and decision-makers, it’s about scanning the environment for threats and opportunities, it’s about securing real tangible benefits.

We’re not just fixing today’s issues; we’re planning for tomorrow’s success. There is huge potential for success for small businesses in the electrical industry, and we want to make sure you’re set up with the tools, knowledge, and rights to make the most of it, that’s why MEA membership is so valuable.

Every time we make a submission on your behalf to a government consultation or proposal for change, and every time we win a battle, it’s a win for electrical contractors everywhere, not just members but we can’t do it without your membership, supporting our work.