Advocacy in Action: A 2025 Wrap For Members

As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take the opportunity to update members on the key advocacy priorities we have progressed on your behalf throughout the year. Advocacy remains at the core of what we do. Our focus has been clear: reducing red tape, strengthening the plumbing and gas workforce, improving regulatory outcomes, and ensuring the voice of licensed plumbing, drainage, and gas contractors is heard at every level of government.

• Workforce and skills

Workforce shortages continue to place significant pressure on plumbing and gas businesses across Queensland. Throughout 2025, we have strongly advocated for greater support for employers taking on apprentices. A key win for industry was the introduction of $19 million in apprentice wage support for small and medium businesses via the Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program. This funding supports employers while apprentices attend college and provides meaningful relief to businesses managing training costs.

We have continued to work closely with government, regulators, training bodies, and industry partners to highlight the challenges employers face, including the cost of supervision, compliance requirements, and the need for practical, job-ready skills. This advocacy has also been reinforced through media engagement, where we consistently call for stronger support for businesses employing apprentices. Our efforts have further extended to migrant labour pathways, with clear policy positions developed to support skilled migration while maintaining safety, quality, and licensing standards.

• Regulatory Reform

We have advocated for removing the requirement for duplicate WHS incident reporting by placing responsibility solely with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, ensuring the focus remains on safety outcomes rather than additional administrative burden for contractors.

• Access to Australian Standards

Access to Australian Standards remains a major cost and usability issue for the industry. We have continued to raise member concerns directly with Standards Australia and the federal government regarding functionality, accessibility, and practical use across devices. While interim solutions have been explored, we have been clear that compliance tools must be fit for purpose, affordable, and accessible for small and medium businesses.

• QBCC

With the release of digital licensing, licensees in categories SC1 and SC2 are no longer required to submit annual financial reports to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, reducing administrative burden. MPAQ is also advocating for an online licensing application process to improve efficiency, reduce processing times, and simplify interactions with the QBCC for licensees.

• Licensing and supervision

MPAQ has provided formal feedback to the Department on technical qualifications for licensing, provisional licensing arrangements, and the apprentice supervision guideline, focusing on achieving practical and workable outcomes for industry.

• Productivity Commission

We have engaged with the Productivity Commission review to ensure the perspectives of plumbing and gas businesses are represented, with a focus on reducing regulatory burden, improving productivity outcomes, and supporting sustainable industry growth.

• Home Warranty Scheme

MPAQ has continued lobbying for changes to the home warranty scheme threshold to ensure settings are fair, practical, and reflective of current construction costs, reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on plumbing and gas businesses.

Looking ahead to 2026

Many of these issues will not be resolved overnight, but progress can be made through consistent, informed, and credible advocacy. MPAQ will be launching a new advocacy document in 2026.

Thank you for your ongoing support, feedback, and engagement. Your experiences on the ground directly inform our advocacy, and together we will continue to push for outcomes that support licensed plumbing, drainage, roofing, and gas contractors, protect the public, and strengthen our industry. On behalf of the team, I wish you a safe and well-earned break and look forward to continuing this work with you in 2026.