Mutual recognition set to ease cross border barriers to business

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) is set to take effect from 1 July 2021. Since the passing of NSW Legislation in early April, it will soon be simpler for tradies and other licensed professionals to carry out their work in multiple states. For border communities like Albury Wodonga, the news comes as a relief for business who depend on their employees and contractors having occupational registrations in both New South Wales and Victoria.

The idea of AMR is similar to how drivers licenses work: jurisdictions will continue to be responsible for the issue of licences to workers, and then that worker can undertake equivalent work in another state without applying for mutual recognition or a new licence or paying an additional fee. Interstate workers need to operate under existing categories and associated scopes of regulated work, and will only be able to conduct work within the scope of their ‘home’ jurisdiction issued licence.

It’s anticipated that direct annual benefits of AMR will apply to more than 168,000 licensees in the form of reduced administrative burden and improved labour mobility. According to a report by pwc undertaken for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, AMR could result in an injection of at least $2.38 billion in GDP over the next 10 years.

Invest Albury Wodonga looks forward to realising the potential efficiency gains AMR will have on further reducing the cost of doing business, with increased labour mobility and removal of regulatory inconsistencies and administrative burdens. With no end in sight for our local housing construction boom, it is expected that our construction industry will find automation of the trade license recognition system a particularly useful tool in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

For more information on the regulatory requirements of operating in New South Wales and Victoria visit Invest Albury Wodonga Regulations, Licences and Approvals