The HVIA says the rejected proposal of extending electrical licensing frameworks to EVs is a win for the transport industry
The Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has supported the Queensland’s government decision to reject a proposal that extends its electrical licensing framework to cover electric vehicles (EVs).
The recommendation was contained in a discussion paper released by the Queensland Electrical Safety Office in May 2023 in response to a wider review of the 2002 Electrical Safety Act.
The Queensland government recently announced that the status quo will be maintained for workers connecting and disconnecting EV systems.
HVIA transport policy and legislation adviser Greg Forbes says that the decision is a victory for both the industry and common sense.
“The original discussion paper considered extending the electrical licensing framework to cover electrical vehicles,” Forbes says.
“The HVIA argued that this would impose considerable costs and delays onto our industry for no additional benefits.
“Our view is that the existing arrangements using the TAFE system and Australian Design Rules (ADRs) works well, and it seems that many other responses to the discussion paper expressed similar views.
“It is always pleasing when government listens to industry concerns.”