NECA Congratulates Premier Ben Carroll and Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams

The National Electrical and Communications Association has congratulated the Hon Ben Carroll MP on becoming Victoria’s Premier and the Hon Gabrielle Williams MP on becoming Deputy Premier.

NECA Victorian Executive Director John Sofarnos said the new leadership team takes office at an important time for Victoria, with significant decisions ahead on workforce capability, housing, infrastructure, energy investment, business conditions and economic productivity.

“On behalf of Victoria’s electrical and communications industry, I congratulate Premier Carroll and Deputy Premier Williams on their appointments and wish them every success,” Mr Sofarnos said.

“NECA has worked constructively with the Victorian Government, and we have valued the willingness of their offices and departments to engage directly with industry.”

“Premier Carroll’s experience in education and workforce policy provides a particularly important foundation for the task ahead. Victoria will need substantially greater electrical workforce and training capacity if it is to deliver its housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, electrification and digital investment ambitions.”

Mr Sofarnos said workforce development must be supported by policy settings that also strengthen the businesses responsible for employing and training apprentices and delivering projects across Victoria.

“You cannot build workforce capacity without strong employers. Electrical contractors need confidence to employ, invest and train, and that requires businesses to be paid properly and on time, protected from unreasonable contractual risk, and able to compete in genuinely fair markets.”

“Victoria must also continue addressing unfair contract terms and unreasonable risk transfer. Contractors should compete on capability, quality, efficiency and value, rather than on their willingness to accept commercial risks that they cannot reasonably control.”

Mr Sofarnos said competitive neutrality would become increasingly important as investment accelerated across energy infrastructure, batteries, electric vehicle charging and other emerging electrical services.

“Victoria has a highly capable private electrical contracting market. Where private businesses can deliver these services competitively, government policy should protect that competition and ensure regulated monopoly businesses cannot use advantages arising from their regulated position to distort contestable markets.”

“NECA recognises the significant work already undertaken by the Victorian Government across skills, training, infrastructure and business policy. We have appreciated the opportunity to contribute constructively to that work, and we want to continue building on that relationship.”

“NECA looks forward to working closely with Premier Carroll, Deputy Premier Williams and their Government on these priorities.”