Commonwealth, State and Territory Electrical Safety Ministers met on Friday 20 March 2026 to reaffirm their commitment to nationally consistent regulation of household electrical consumer products, with a particular focus on emerging safety risks associated with e‑micromobility devices.
Ministers attending the meeting, chaired by Commonwealth Assistant Minister the Hon Andrew Leigh MP, emphasised the importance of coordinated national action to support safety outcomes, regulatory efficiency and a coordinated national market.
At the meeting, Ministers agreed that a priority for 2026 is to progress work towards a nationally consistent approach to the regulation of the electrical safety of e‑micromobility devices, building on work initiated by Consumer Affairs Ministers in 2025, including a priority focus on interim approaches to emerging issues in the regulation of e-micromobility products. This work will be progressed in close collaboration with Transport and Infrastructure Ministers and Consumer Affairs Ministers, recognising the intersection between product and electrical safety, and transport regulation and infrastructure frameworks governing their use in the community.
Ministers also endorsed a longer-term work program and prioritising more consistent, risk-based regulation of household electrical consumer products across jurisdictions. In 2026 this will include commencing targeted consultation to consider reforms to the Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme to facilitate greater national consistency in adoption, supporting a more efficient and consistent national market for household electrical consumer products.
Ministers also emphasised the importance of ongoing ministerial oversight, supported by officials through a coordinated work program, to ensure reforms are delivered in a coordinated, timely and practical way, and committed to continuing to meet regularly to monitor progress.
Ministers and MPs attending the meeting included:
- Commonwealth - The Hon Andrew Leigh, MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
- New South Wales - The Hon Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections
- Victoria - The Hon Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission
- Western Australia - The Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA, Attorney-General, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Tertiary and International Education, and Minister for Multicultural Interests
Senior departmental officials attending the meeting included:
- New South Wales - Ms Natasha Mann, NSW Fair Trading Commissioner and Deputy Secretary; Ms Elizabeth Verteouris, Director Licensing and Accreditation, Building Commission NSW
- Victoria - Ms Katie Brown, Executive Director Electrification, Efficiency and Safety, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- Queensland - Ms Megan Barry, Deputy Director General, Office of Industrial Relations, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
- South Australia - Mr Rob Faunt, Director Technical Regulation, Department for Energy and Mining
- Tasmania - Mr Bradley Wagg, Executive Director, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services
- Australian Capital Territory - Mr Nick Lhuede, Executive Branch Manager Building, Planning and Land Use Regulation, Access Canberra
- Northern Territory - Mr Grant Hastie, Executive Director, NT WorkSafe
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
"Ministers responsible for the safety of household electrical goods are committed to delivering nationally consistent rules that protect consumers and make it easier for businesses to operate across Australia".
