Tradies will save $52.3 million over 10 years from not having to renew their licenses every three years, as part of the NSW Government’s Better Business reforms.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said it followed extensive public consultation, which also showed significant support for retaining 13 home building licenses.
"This is a fantastic outcome for consumers and for more than 27,400 tradies around the State, because it maintains important protections while also cutting costs," Mr Kean said.
"The licenses have important safeguards, so we’re keeping all of them, but we also wanted to find ways to reduce the financial burden on these small businesses.
"This reform will reduce renewal fees from up to $605 every three years to just a $51 processing fee for tradies to update their details every five years.
"That gives them more money to pay the bills, put food on the table, or go out with their families, as well as additional funds to grow their businesses.
"The NSW people can trust the Coalition because we consult, we listen and we deliver."
The licenses that will become ongoing include decorating, painting, fencing, glazing, kitchen and bathroom benchtop installation, splashback installation, paving, shower screen installation, ducting/mechanical ventilation, shade sails and shade systems installation, dry plastering, wet plastering and minor maintenance/cleaning.
In May 2018, the Minister wrote to more than 100 business groups, academics, think tanks and members of Parliament seeking ideas to remove unnecessary red tape and make it easier to start and stay in business.
The outcome of this consultation will culminate in the Better Business Reforms – the biggest shakeup of NSW consumer law in more than three decades.
"This is about getting back to basics. Only a Coalition Government will cut red tape and put more money back in the hands of NSW small businesses," Mr Kean said.
Minister Kean will introduce the Better Business Reforms, which also includes reforms to increase transparency for consumers, into parliament later this month.
