Response from Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party have responded with the attached letter outlining the party’s headline policies.

View the ALP response here

Response from the Australian Greens

MEA believes the Australian Building and Construction Commission should be retained in the interests of workplace productivity. Would you support this initiative if elected?

No

MEA supports the creation of a national trades licensing authority to expedite Automatic Mutual Recognition of licenses. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Greens support the principle of nationally consistent electrical safety and licensing legislation, but on the basis that it lifts all jurisdictions to the highest possible standard and has the agreement of employers, unions and government.

MEA supports the creation of a nationally consistent security-of-payments system, as envisaged by the Murray Review. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes

MEA calls on the Australian Government to support the electrotechnology industry to have its own Industry Skills Cluster, recognizing its unique reach across all facets of the economy and not just the building and construction sectors. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes

MEA supports the retention of the successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) scheme in some form, to address skills shortages and to increase the rate of commencements. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Greens support a wage subsidy on the basis that sufficient protections are in place to ensure apprentices have ongoing employment once the subsidy finishes.

MEA advocates revising electrical tariffs and regulation to make the best use of domestic solar power installations through initiatives such as time of use tariffs. We also call for the Government to shift its small-scale incentives from renewable energy into bi-directional electric vehicles to encourage uptake, and to prioritise bi-directional electric vehicles in fleet purchasing. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes

MEA calls on the Federal Government to review the “Power of Choice” reforms regarding electrical metering to reduce waiting times and costs for consumers, including allowing suitably qualified electrical contractors to become authorised service providers, cutting out red tape and cost. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Greens would work with the sector and consider whether a review of the Power of Choice reforms is needed.

MEA endorses the CSIRO “State of Play” report into establishing a domestic battery manufacturing industry and supply chain, as well as a Green Steel industry in Australia. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes

Response from the Liberal National Coalition

The Liberal National Coaltition have responded with the attached letter outlining the party’s headline policies.

View the Coalition’s Response Here

Response from Katter’s Australian Party

Whilst other parties might wish to make hollow promises during an election period, Bob has well known stances on key policy areas and often leads debate to promote positive action when matters are in the public arena.

Staffing limits and time constraints limit our ability to produce long winded policy statements that provide much gloss and little substance.

Should you be advocating for positive change we would encourage you to seek the support of Bob  and or other politicians following the election period when real change can, and should, happen.

We also encourage to review the Katter Australia Party’s (KAP’s) policies which you can find here – Policies – Katter’s Australian Party (kap.org.au).

Response from Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are a free enterprise party that believe in small government and light-handed regulation.  We have a comprehensive policy document – The Freedom Manifesto – that should be read in conjunction with any answers to the questions below.  Particularly we support a company tax rate of 20 per cent and changes to the individual tax rates i.e. a $40,000 tax-free threshold and a flat 20 per cent tax rate.  We also support the elimination of costly red and green tape on business.  The Freedom Manifesto can be found at:  https://www.ldp.org.au/freedom

MEA believes the Australian Building and Construction Commission should be retained in the interests of workplace productivity. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes

MEA supports the creation of a national trades licensing authority to expedite Automatic Mutual Recognition of licenses. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes, as long as it demonstrably reduces red tape on business, reduces licensing fees and reduces overall government expenditure across Australia.

MEA supports the creation of a nationally consistent security-of-payments system, as envisaged by the Murray Review. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes, as long as it is fully supported by industry and does not add to the regulatory cost burden on the industry or consumers.

MEA calls on the Australian Government to support the electrotechnology industry to have its own Industry Skills Cluster, recognizing its unique reach across all facets of the economy and not just the building and construction sectors. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Would need to know more about the issue.

MEA supports the retention of the successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) scheme in some form, to address skills shortages and to increase the rate of commencements. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Lib Dems would prefer that this be led by business with appropriate direct incentives – note our policy of a 20 per cent company tax rate.

MEA advocates revising electrical tariffs and regulation to make the best use of domestic solar power installations through initiatives such as time of use tariffs.  We also call for the Government to shift its small-scale incentives from renewable energy into bi-directional electric vehicles to encourage uptake, and to prioritise bi-directional electric vehicles in fleet purchasing. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Lib Dems policy on energy and regulation is at www.ldp.org.au/cheap_energy

MEA calls on the Federal Government to review the “Power of Choice” reforms regarding electrical metering to reduce waiting times and costs for consumers, including allowing suitably qualified electrical contractors to become authorised service providers, cutting out red tape and cost. Would you support this initiative if elected?

Yes – so long as demonstrable benefits are there for consumers.

MEA endorses the CSIRO “State of Play” report into establishing a domestic battery manufacturing industry and supply chain, as well as a Green Steel industry in Australia. Would you support this initiative if elected?

The Lib Dems believe Australia can revitalise its manufacturing sector by reducing tax rates, cutting red tape, reforming IR and getting energy costs down.  We would like to see both initiatives in Australia but on the basis of private sector investment.