COAG communique 30 April 2009

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Hobart on 30 April 2009 has released a communique outlining its agreements including:

• national disaster arrangements;
• jobs and training;
• energy efficiency; and
• regulation reform.

COAG endorsed a series of reforms, recommended by the Business Regulation and Competition Working Group (BRCWG):

• a further step towards the development of a national licensing system for airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics,building and building related occupations,electrical,land transport (passenger vehicle drivers and dangerous goods only),maritime, plumbing and gasfitting and property agents;
• a further step towards the development of a National Construction Code, which will consolidate building, plumbing, electrical and telecommunications regulations;
• agreement to set up a taskforce on reform of the regulation of the legal profession, with the objective of uniform laws across jurisdictions;
• inclusion of the regulation of the not-for-profit sector as part of the BRCWG’s 2009 workplan; and
• agreement to the National Mine Safety Framework Implementation Report, which includes strategies for achieving a consistent Occupational Health and Safety regime in the mining industry.