- Finocchiaro CLP Government removed red-tape for electricians and laws introduced this week will make the change permanent.
- Tradies and business owners will spend less time on paperwork and more time growing their businesses and employing Territorians.
- Nominations now open for the Electrical Safety Board.
Territory tradies can expect less paperwork, more time on the job, and greater certainty for their businesses as the Finocchiaro CLP Government introduces laws to permanently remove unnecessary paperwork for low-risk electrical work.
The reform amends the Electrical Safety Act to exempt certain low-risk, like-for-like electrical work from requiring a Certificate of Compliance. Routine tasks such as replacing light fittings or appliances where there is no change to wiring, load or circuit protection will no longer require additional paperwork.
This change ensures safety requirements remain strong, while allowing NT WorkSafe to focus on compliance and enforcement in higher-risk electrical work - where it matters most.
Attorney-General, Marie-Clare Boothby said the legislation delivers a sensible balance between safety and practicality.
“We want small and family businesses to be able to spend more time working on growing their business and employing Territorians and less time navigating red tape,” she said. “We’re removing red tape that did nothing to improve safety, never made sense for the Territory, and which only increased costs, delays, and frustration for electricians, businesses and Territory households.”
“After eight years under Labor, the Territory economy was going backwards, and businesses now have certainty to boost productivity with the CLP government backing Territory tradies.”
“In our year of growth, certainty, and security we are committed to making the Territory the best place to do business, and that includes for skilled trades and construction.”
Owner of AJF Electrical in Palmerston, Mr Allen Fanning, welcomed the reforms.
“It might sound like a basic change, but this saves us from wasting time on paperwork which does not make routine work like changing appliances, fans or power points any safer if safety switches are already installed,” he said.
“It means we can spend more time on the job and building our business, saving customers money too.”
The reform was identified through the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s Saying Yes to Business report, which recommended reducing compliance requirements for low-risk, routine electrical work. An interim exemption commenced on 1 January 2026. This legislation makes that change permanent.
The Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce was established by the Finocchiaro CLP Government, to cut approval timeframes by 50% and remove unnecessary regulatory barriers which slowed down business and investment. These changes are part of a broader suite of improvements being delivered through NT WorkSafe in 2026, the government’s Year of Growth, Certainty and Security, focused on rebuild the Territory economy and on making the NT the best place to do business.
The Attorney-General also advised that nominations are now open for the NT Electrical Safety Board, which plays a key role in advising on electrical safety policy, regulation and disciplinary matters.
“If you have experience in the electrical industry, we want you involved in helping strengthen safety, productivity and opportunity for Territory tradies,” she said.
Nominations close on 1 March 2026. More information is available at www.worksafe.nt.gov.au/esb.
Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom
