{"id":"plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983","name":"Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983","slug":"plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30491,"registerId":"nt-plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPLUMBERS AND DRAINERS LICENSING ACT 1983\nAs in force at 10 February 2026\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n2A Object of Act .................................................................................... 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n4 Application ....................................................................................... 3\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\n5 Establishment of Board ................................................................... 3\n6 Composition of Board ...................................................................... 4\n7 Appointment of members................................................................. 4\n8 Period of appointment ..................................................................... 4\n9 Resignation of members .................................................................. 4\n10 Dismissal of members ..................................................................... 5\n11 Chairman ......................................................................................... 5\n12 Meetings of Board ........................................................................... 6\n13 Annual report ................................................................................... 6\n14 Protection of Board and its members .............................................. 6\n15 Delegation ....................................................................................... 7\n16 Functions and powers of Board ....................................................... 7\nPart 3 Plumbing licence areas\n17 Minister may declare plumbing licence area .................................... 8\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\n22 Application for registration as journeyman ....................................... 8\n22A Deciding application for registration as journeyman ........................ 9\n23 Application for licence as advanced tradesman............................. 10\n24 Deciding application for licence as advanced tradesman .............. 10\n25 Validity of registration card or licence ............................................ 11\n26 Renewal of registration card or licence .......................................... 11\n27 Renewal of endorsed licences ....................................................... 12\n28 Copies of registration cards, licences or certificates ...................... 12\n29 Reciprocity certificates ................................................................... 13\n30 Cancellation or suspension of registration card or licence ............. 13\n31 Show cause notice by Board ......................................................... 14\n32 Procedure at hearing ..................................................................... 15\n\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 ii\n33 Action after hearing ....................................................................... 15\n34 Application for reissue of registration card or licence .................... 15\n35 Consideration of applications for reinstatement ............................. 16\n35A Licence not transferable ................................................................ 16\nPart 5 Review of decisions\n36 Review by NTCAT ......................................................................... 16\nPart 6 Offences\n38 Carrying out work when unlicensed ............................................... 17\n39 Non-application of section 38 ........................................................ 18\n40 Carrying out work while under suspension .................................... 19\n41 Fraudulent use or reproduction of licence, &c. .............................. 19\n42 False statements ........................................................................... 20\n43 Insufficient supervision or control .................................................. 20\n44 Registration cards and licences ..................................................... 20\n45 Employment of tradesman not licensed by Board ......................... 20\n46 Notification of change of address .................................................. 21\n46A Regulatory offences....................................................................... 21\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\n47 Service of notices .......................................................................... 21\n48 Powers and duties of authorised officer ......................................... 21\n49 Regulations.................................................................................... 22\nPart 8 Declarations relevant to period before\ncommencement of Plumbers and Drainers\nLicensing Amendment Act 2009\n50 Declarations about application of Act and validity of matters on\nand after 1 January 2001 until commencement ............................. 22\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business\nand Asian Relations Legislation\nAmendment (Streamlining Licensing\nSchemes and Other Matters) Act 2026\n51 Definitions ...................................................................................... 24\n52 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement.... 24\n53 Reviews not commenced before commencement ......................... 24\n54 Application made but not yet determined ...................................... 25\nSchedule Reviewable decisions\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 10 February 2026\n____________________\nPLUMBERS AND DRAINERS LICENSING ACT 1983\nAn Act to provide for the licensing of plumbers and drainers and for\nother purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing\nAct 1983.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on the commencement of the\nWater Supply and Sewerage Act 1983.\n2A Object of Act\nThe object of this Act is to provide for the protection of the health\nand welfare of the community by:\n(a) licensing persons to carry out plumbing and draining in the\nTerritory while at the same time allowing certain work to be\ncarried out by unlicensed persons;\n(b) providing for reciprocity in relation to qualifications of plumbers\nand drainers with other jurisdictions; and\n(c) providing uniformity of standards in the trades in the Territory.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act:\nadvanced tradesman means a tradesman engaged in the trade of\nplumbing or of draining or both of those trades who is entitled under\nthe provisions of this Act:\n(a) to carry out work on his own account in either or both of those\ntrades; and\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 2\n(b) to direct and supervise the work of apprentices, journeymen\nand unqualified or unskilled workers.\naffected person, see section 36(2).\napprentice, see section 4 of the Training and Skills Development\nAct 2016.\napproved means approved by the Board.\nAustralia-New Zealand Reciprocity Association and ANZRA\nmeans the association of authorities each charged with the conduct\nof examinations as to the competency and certification of plumbers\nand drainers within its area.\nauthorised officer, see section 4 of the Building Act 1993.\nBoard means the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nestablished by this Act.\nChairman means the Chairman of the Board appointed under\nsection 11.\ndraining means the work of excavating, installing, altering,\nremoving or repairing sub-surface fittings or pipes designed to\nreceive the discharge from soil or water pipes and carry that\ndischarge to a common sewer, drain or septic tank.\ninformation notice, for a decision of the Board, means a written\nnotice stating the following:\n(a) the decision;\n(b) the reasons for the decision;\n(c) the person given the notice may apply for a review of the\ndecision to the Local Court within 21 days after receipt of the\nnotice.\njourneyman means a tradesman engaged in the trade of plumbing\nor of draining or both of those trades who is working, as an\noperative, under the direction of an advanced tradesman, and who\nis eligible to exercise direction or supervision over apprentices or\nunqualified workers.\njurisdiction means a State or Territory of the Commonwealth or\nNew Zealand.\nland includes a building or structure erected on land.\n\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 3\nlicence means a licence issued by the Board authorizing a\ntradesman to contract and undertake work of plumbing or draining,\nas the case may be, in the Territory.\nmember means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman\nand Deputy Chairman.\nplumbing means the work of installing, altering, removing or\nrepairing fixtures, fittings and pipes designed to receive and carry\nsewage or water, and the ventilation of those fixtures, fittings and\npipes, and includes the installing, altering, repairing, maintaining,\nremoving or connecting of a hot or cold water service to land.\nplumbing licence area means all or a part of the Territory declared\nunder section 17 as an area of land to which this Act applies.\nprescribed Acts means the following:\n(a) this Act;\n(b) the Building Act 1993;\n(c) the Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000.\nreciprocity certificate means a certificate issued by the Board or\nby an authority which is a member of ANZRA, certifying that the\nholder meets an agreed standard in his trade.\nregistration card means a registration card issued to a person\nregistered under Part 4 as a journeyman.\nreviewable decision, see section 36(1).\nNote for section 36\nThe Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be\nrelevant to this Act.\n4 Application\n(1) This Act applies in relation to work carried out in a plumbing licence\narea.\n(2) This Act binds the Crown.\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\n5 Establishment of Board\nThere is established by this Act a Board by the name of the\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Board.\n\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 4\n6 Composition of Board\nThe Board shall consist of 5 members, being:\n(a) an employee of the Agency administering the Building\nAct 1993; and\n(b) a representative of those educational institutions in the\nTerritory which provide training courses for apprentice\nplumbers and drainers; and\n(c) 2 persons each of whom holds qualifications as an advanced\ntradesman in the combined trades of plumbing and draining;\nand\n(d) a representative of the Northern Territory authority charged\nwith registration of indentures of apprenticeship and oversight\nof the training of apprentices.\n7 Appointment of members\n(1) Subject to this section, the Minister may, by Gazette notice, appoint\na person to be a member.\n(2) The Minister shall not appoint a person for the purpose of\nsection 6(b) unless he is satisfied that the person is currently\nengaged in teaching or examining, and is qualified to teach or\nexamine, apprentices in the trades of plumbing and draining.\n(3) The Minister shall not appoint a person for the purpose of\nsection 6(c) or (d) unless he has first given to the trade association\nthat is representative of the tradesmen engaged in the trade of\nplumbing or draining or the Territory authority referred to in\nsection 6(d), as the case may be, an opportunity to recommend\npersons to be so appointed.\n8 Period of appointment\nSubject to this Part, a member holds office until the expiration of\nsuch period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the notice of\nhis appointment, but is eligible for reappointment.\n9 Resignation of members\n(1) A member, other than the member referred to in section 6(a), may\nresign his office by notice in writing signed by him and delivered to\nthe Minister, but such resignation does not have effect until\naccepted by the Minister.\n\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 5\n(2) A member who ceases to hold the qualifications necessary for his\nappointment shall be deemed to have resigned, and his resignation\nshall be deemed to have been accepted by the Minister, on the\ndate upon which he ceased to hold those qualifications.\n10 Dismissal of members\nThe Minister may terminate the appointment of a member:\n(a) on the ground of the member's:\n(i) inability, inefficiency, misbehaviour or physical or mental\nincapacity; or\n(ii) absence, except on leave granted by the Board, from\n3 consecutive meetings of the Board; or\n(iii) conviction and sentence to imprisonment for a period of\n3 months or longer, for an offence against a law of the\nTerritory, the Commonwealth, another Territory or a\nState; or\n(iv) becoming bankrupt, applying to take the benefit of a law\nfor the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors,\ncompounding with his creditors or making an assignment\nof his remuneration for their benefit; or\n(b) on receipt of a recommendation:\n(ii) in the case of the member referred to in section 6(b),\nfrom the educational institution concerned; or\n(iii) in the case of a member referred to in section 6(c),\nwhere the Minister has appointed the person\nrecommended under section 7(3) and the person no\nlonger belongs to the trade association, from the trade\nassociation; or\n(iv) in the case of the member referred to in section 6(d),\nfrom the authority referred to in that section,\nthat the Minister terminate the appointment of the member.\n11 Chairman\n(1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, appoint one member to be the\nChairman of the Board, and another to be the Deputy Chairman.\n(2) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he\nis present.\n\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 6\n(3) Where the Chairman is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the\nDeputy Chairman shall preside and, while presiding, shall have all\nthe powers of the Chairman.\n12 Meetings of Board\n(1) The Chairman shall call such meetings of the Board as are\nnecessary for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its\nfunctions, but so that the interval between one meeting and the next\ndoes not exceed 3 months.\n(2) The Minister may at any time direct the Chairman to call a meeting\nof the Board and the Chairman shall call a meeting accordingly.\n(3) At a meeting of the Board:\n(a) the Chairman or, where the Chairman is absent, the Deputy\nChairman and 2 members constitute a quorum;\n(b) questions arising shall be determined by a majority of the\nvotes of the members present and voting and in the event of\nan equality of votes the matter shall be taken to have been\ndefeated; and\n(c) subject to this Act, the Board shall determine the procedure to\nbe followed at or in connection with the meeting.\n(4) The Board shall keep a record of its meetings.\n13 Annual report\n(1) Subject to subsection (3), the Board shall furnish to the Minister, not\nlater than 31 December in each year, a report on its operations\nduring the year ending on the preceding 30 September.\n(2) The Minister shall cause a copy of each report furnished to him\nunder this section to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within\n6 sitting days of the Legislative Assembly after it has been so\nfurnished.\n14 Protection of Board and its members\n(1) An act or proceeding of the Board shall not be invalidated or\nprejudiced by reason only of the fact that at the time when the act\nor proceeding was done, taken or commenced, there was a\nvacancy in the office of a member.\n(2) No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, shall lie against a member\nfor or in respect of an act or thing done or omitted to be done in\ngood faith by him in his capacity as a member.\n\nPart 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 7\n15 Delegation\n(1) The Board may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person any\nof its powers and functions under this Act, other than this power of\ndelegation.\n(2) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised\nor performed by the delegate, shall, for the purpose of this Act, be\ndeemed to have been exercised or performed by the Board.\n(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a\npower or the performance of a function by the Board.\n16 Functions and powers of Board\n(1) The functions of the Board are, in relation to the trades of plumbing\nand draining:\n(a) by means of examinations or otherwise, to assess the\nqualifications and suitability of persons to practise those\ntrades; and\n(b) to issue or cancel reciprocity certificates for advanced\ntradesmen and journeymen; and\n(c) to issue, renew, suspend, cancel or reinstate:\n(i) registration cards for journeymen; and\n(ii) licences for advanced tradesmen; and\n(d) to issue replacement copies of lost or destroyed licences and\nregistration cards; and\n(e) to maintain a register or registers of advanced tradesmen and\njourneymen; and\n(f) to enforce the provisions of this Act; and\n(g) to request and receive reports relating to inspections carried\nout under any of the prescribed Acts in relation to offences\nagainst any of those Acts or the workmanship of licensed\nplumbers or drainers or journeymen; and\n(h) to undertake such other functions as the Minister from time to\ntime directs it to undertake in relation to the examination,\nlicensing and registration of persons practising or seeking to\npractise those trades.\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 8\n(2) In carrying out its functions the Board may:\n(a) make the inquiries the Board considers appropriate relating to:\n(i) an application for a licence or registration card; or\n(ii) the cancellation or suspension of a licence or registration\ncard; or\n(iii) an application for a reciprocity certificate; and\n(b) conduct hearings at which it may call and examine witnesses\nand hear evidence; and\n(c) join appropriate associations of licensing or examining\nauthorities and co-operate with other licensing or examining\nauthorities; and\n(d) collect the fees or charges prescribed for the issue, renewal or\nreplacement of licences and registration cards; and\n(e) in its discretion remit all or part of the prescribed licence fee\nwhere an applicant for a licence is employed solely in a\nteaching capacity; and\n(f) do all other things which it considers necessary or convenient\nfor and incidental to the performance of its functions.\nPart 3 Plumbing licence areas\n17 Minister may declare plumbing licence area\n(1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare all or a part of the\nTerritory as an area of land to which this Act applies.\n(2) A declaration may refer to an area of land by describing the land or\nreferring to a map or plan of the land.\n(3) A declaration may provide that it takes effect on the date of the\nGazette notice or a later date.\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\n22 Application for registration as journeyman\n(1) An application for registration as a journeyman in the trade of\nplumbing or draining, or both the trades, must:\n(a) be made to the Board in the approved form; and\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 9\n(b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to\nenable the Board to decide the application, including the\ndocuments and information specified in the approved form;\nand\n(c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.\n(2) The Board may require a document or information that is required\nto accompany the application be made or verified by statutory\ndeclaration.\n22A Deciding application for registration as journeyman\n(1) On receipt of the application, the Board:\n(a) may make the inquiries regarding the qualifications,\nexperience and competence of the applicant it considers\nappropriate; and\n(b) must either grant or refuse to grant the application.\n(2) The Board may grant the application only if satisfied the applicant:\n(a) has successfully completed the academic course or courses,\nand the practical training, approved by the Board as\nappropriate to the applicant; or\n(b) holds a reciprocity certificate (operative level) issued by a\nmember authority of ANZRA; or\n(c) holds an equivalent qualification gained elsewhere than in\nAustralia or New Zealand that is recognised by ANZRA; or\n(d) has another qualification and experience that, in the Board's\nassessment, are a sufficient basis for registration.\n(3) If the applicant holds a qualification mentioned in subsection (2)(c),\nthe Board must be satisfied:\n(a) if the qualification was obtained in a country where instruction\nin the trades of plumbing and draining is given in English – the\napplicant has been employed in Australia in the relevant trade\nas an unqualified worker under the supervision of qualified\ntradesmen for at least 3 months; or\n(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, the applicant:\n(i) has been employed in Australia in the relevant trade as\nan unqualified worker under the supervision of qualified\ntradesmen for at least 12 months; and\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 10\n(ii) is able to give and receive oral and written instructions in\nEnglish.\n(4) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly:\n(a) register the applicant as a journeyman in the trade of plumbing\nor draining or both the trades; and\n(b) issue and send to the applicant a registration card.\n(5) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must\npromptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision.\n23 Application for licence as advanced tradesman\n(1) An application for a licence as an advanced tradesman in the trade\nof plumbing or draining, or both the trades, must:\n(a) be made to the Board in the approved form; and\n(b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to\nenable the Board to decide the application, including the\ndocuments and information specified in the approved form;\nand\n(c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.\n(2) The Board may require a document or information that is required\nto accompany the application be made or verified by statutory\ndeclaration.\n24 Deciding application for licence as advanced tradesman\n(1) On receipt of the application, the Board:\n(a) may make the inquiries regarding the qualifications,\nexperience and competence of the applicant it considers\nappropriate; and\n(b) must either grant or refuse to grant the application.\n(2) The Board may grant the application only if satisfied the applicant:\n(a) has one of the following qualifications:\n(i) a registration card as a journeyman plumber or drainer\nor journeyman plumber and drainer;\n(ii) a qualification for registration as a journeyman plumber\nor drainer or journeyman plumber and drainer;\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 11\n(iii) a reciprocity certificate (advanced level) issued by a\nmember authority of ANZRA in the trade of plumbing or\ndraining or both the trades; and\n(b) is competent to:\n(i) assess the scope and technical requirements of\nplumbing or draining under a contract; and\n(ii) determine the skills and resources necessary to carry\nout the work; and\n(iii) put in place appropriate arrangements for carrying out\nthe work properly and safely in compliance with the\nprescribed Acts; and\n(c) has successfully completed an approved advanced trade\npractices and management course as appropriate to the\napplicant.\n(3) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly:\n(a) issue and send to the applicant a licence in the trade of\nplumbing or draining or both the trades; and\n(b) record the issue of the licence in the register kept by it.\n(4) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must\npromptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision.\n25 Validity of registration card or licence\nSubject to this Act, a registration card or a licence is valid for such\nperiod, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the registration\ncard or licence.\n26 Renewal of registration card or licence\n(1) A person may, within 3 months before the expiry of his current\nregistration card or licence, including a licence endorsed \"not\neligible for reciprocity\", apply to the Board for renewal of that\nregistration card or licence.\n(2) Subject to section 27, the Board may decline to accept an\napplication for renewal of a registration card or licence if it is\nsubmitted after the expiry of the registration card or licence\npreviously held by the applicant, and in such a case the Board shall\nrequire the applicant to submit an application under section 22\nor 23, as the case may be.\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 12\n(3) An application for renewal of a registration card or licence shall be\nmade in the approved form and shall be accompanied by the\nprescribed fee.\n(4) The Board, in considering an application for renewal of a\nregistration card or licence, may make such inquiries as it thinks fit\nregarding the conduct and competence of the applicant as a\njourneyman or advanced tradesman, as the case may be.\n(5) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly:\n(a) issue and send to the applicant a registration card or licence;\nand\n(b) record the issue of the registration card or licence in the\nappropriate register kept by it.\n(6) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must\npromptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision.\n(7) If an application for renewal is made while the licence or registration\ncard is still in force, the licence or registration card remains in force\nuntil the date that the applicant is notified of the outcome of the\nrenewal application.\n(8) If an application for renewal is granted, the renewed licence or\nregistration card is taken to have commenced on the date following\nthe expiry date of the licence or registration card it renews.\n27 Renewal of endorsed licences\n(1) The Board shall accept an application to renew a licence endorsed\n\"not eligible for reciprocity\" of an applicant who has applied for\nrenewal of the licence within 12 months after the date upon which it\nexpired and shall deal with it.\n(2) The Board shall not renew a licence endorsed \"not eligible for\nreciprocity\" of an applicant who has failed to apply for renewal of\nthe licence within 12 months after the date upon which it expired,\nand may require the applicant for renewal to apply for a licence\nunder section 23.\n28 Copies of registration cards, licences or certificates\n(1) A person whose registration card or licence issued by the Board\nhas been lost or destroyed may apply to the Board for the issue of a\ncopy of that registration card or licence.\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 13\n(2) An application made under subsection (1) shall be:\n(a) in the approved form; and\n(b) accompanied by a statutory declaration setting out the\ncircumstances of the loss or destruction of the registration\ncard or licence; and\n(c) accompanied by the prescribed fee.\n(3) If the Board is satisfied that a registration card or licence was lost or\ndestroyed, it shall issue a copy thereof to the applicant.\n(4) If a person to whom a copy registration card or copy licence has\nbeen issued under this section subsequently finds the original\nregistration card or licence, he shall return the copy to the Board.\nMaximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.\n29 Reciprocity certificates\n(1) A person who is entitled to be the holder of a registration card or\nlicence because of qualifications obtained in the Territory may apply\nto the Board for a reciprocity certificate.\n(1A) The application must:\n(a) be in the approved form; and\n(b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to\nenable the Board to decide the application, including the\ndocuments and information specified in the approved form;\nand\n(c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.\n(2) Where a reciprocity certificate issued by the Board has been lost or\ndestroyed, the Board may, on request, issue a written statement to\nthe effect that the loss of the certificate has been reported to it, but\nit shall not issue a replacement certificate.\n30 Cancellation or suspension of registration card or licence\n(1) The Board may cancel a registration card or a licence where such\nregistration card or licence was issued in error or as a result of a\nfalse or misleading statement by the applicant.\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 14\n(2) The Board may take any of the actions referred to in section 33 in\nrelation to a person who holds a registration card or a licence where\nthat person:\n(a) has committed an offence against any of the prescribed Acts;\nor\n(b) has carried out work in a trade to which this Act relates in\nrespect of which he does not hold a registration card or\nlicence; or\n(c) is, having regard to the person's conduct and competence, no\nlonger a suitable person to hold a registration card or licence;\nor\n(d) in the case of an advanced tradesman – has not ensured, or is\nnot in a position to ensure, work carried out under the licence\nis properly and adequately managed or supervised; or\n(e) in the case of a journeyman, has contracted to undertake or\nhas undertaken work that is required by this Act to be\nundertaken by an advanced tradesman.\n31 Show cause notice by Board\n(1) The Board shall, before taking any action against a person under\nsection 30(2), give that person at least 14 days notice in writing to\nshow cause why his registration card or licence should not be\ncancelled or suspended or a warning issued to him.\n(2) A notice given under subsection (1) shall:\n(a) state the reason or reasons why the Board thinks the\nproposed action may be warranted; and\n(b) indicate the date, time and place where the Board proposes to\nhold a hearing to consider the matter; and\n(c) specify the documents, if any, that the Board considers\nrelevant to the proposed action.\n(3) The Board may require a person to whom notice has been given\nunder subsection (1) to produce to it such documents as are\nspecified in the notice.\n(4) The holder of a registration card or licence to whom notice has\nbeen given under subsection (1) may present his case in person at\nthe hearing referred to in subsection (2)(b) or may submit a\nstatement to the Board in the form of a statutory declaration.\n\nPart 4 Registration cards and licences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 15\n32 Procedure at hearing\n(1) At a hearing referred to in section 31, the person to whom a notice\nhas been given under that section may call and examine witnesses.\n(2) A person is not excused from answering a question when required\nto do so at a hearing referred to in section 31 on the ground that the\nanswer to the question might tend to incriminate him or make him\nliable to a penalty, but his answer to a question is not admissible\nagainst him in any proceedings other than proceedings for an\noffence against section 42(1).\n(3) Subject to this section, the Board may determine the procedure to\nbe adopted at a hearing.\n33 Action after hearing\n(1) After a hearing referred to in section 31 has been held, the Board\nmay, if satisfied that there are grounds for so doing:\n(a) cancel a person's registration card or licence; or\n(b) suspend a person's registration card for a period not\nexceeding 12 months; or\n(c) suspend a person's licence for a period not exceeding\n2 years; or\n(d) issue a warning to a person holding the registration card or\nlicence.\n(2) If the Board decides to take action under subsection (1), it must\npromptly give the person an information notice for the decision.\n34 Application for reissue of registration card or licence\n(1) Where a registration card has been cancelled and the former holder\nhas continued to work as an unqualified worker under the\nsupervision of advanced tradesmen or journeymen for a minimum\nperiod of one year following the cancellation, he may apply to the\nBoard for the reissue to him of his registration card.\n(2) Where a licence other than a licence endorsed \"not eligible for\nreciprocity\" has been cancelled and the former holder has\ncontinued to work as a journeyman plumber or drainer for a\nminimum period of 2 years following the cancellation, he may apply\nto the Board for the reissue to him of his licence.\n\nPart 5 Review of decisions\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 16\n(3) An application under subsection (1) or (2) must be in the approved\nform and must be accompanied by:\n(a) proof of the applicant's continued employment by an\nadvanced tradesman; and\n(b) 2 character references, at least one of which is a reference\nfrom a person engaged in either or both of the trades of\nplumbing and draining who has employed the applicant during\nthe period immediately before the application; and\n(c) details of the applicant's previous registration card or licence;\nand\n(d) the prescribed application fee.\n35 Consideration of applications for reinstatement\n(1) The Board, after having made such inquiries in relation to an\napplication under section 34 as it thinks fit, and having considered\nthe application, may either:\n(a) reissue the registration card or licence; or\n(b) refuse to reissue the registration card or licence.\n(2) Where the Board reissues a registration card or licence, the term of\nthe reissued registration card or licence shall expire on the next\ncommon expiry date of registration cards and licences issued under\nthis Act.\n(3) If the Board refuses to reissue a registration card or licence, it must\npromptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision.\n35A Licence not transferable\nA licence is not transferable by the licensee.\nPart 5 Review of decisions\n36 Review by NTCAT\n(1) NTCAT has jurisdiction to review a decision (a reviewable\ndecision) specified in the Schedule.\n(2) An affected person, for a reviewable decision, is a person\nspecified in the Schedule for the decision.\n\nPart 6 Offences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 17\n(3) An affected person for a reviewable decision may apply to NTCAT\nfor review of the decision.\nNote for section 36\nThe Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 sets out the\nprocedure for applying to NTCAT for review and other relevant matters in relation\nto reviews.\nPart 6 Offences\n38 Carrying out work when unlicensed\n(1) Subject to section 39, a person shall not, for reward or otherwise,\ncarry out or undertake to carry out on his own account any work of\nplumbing or of draining unless he holds a licence as an advanced\ntradesman in that trade.\nMaximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 6 months.\nFor a second or subsequent offence –\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n(2) Subject to section 39, a person who does not hold a registration\ncard or licence shall not carry out plumbing or draining work\notherwise than in the employment of an advanced tradesman and\nunder the supervision of an advanced tradesman or a journeyman.\nMaximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 6 months.\nFor a second or subsequent offence –\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n(3) A person must not, for reward or otherwise:\n(a) carry out or contract to carry out:\n(i) plumbing work; or\n(ii) draining work,\nunless the person holds a licence:\n(iii) in respect of subparagraph (i) – as a plumber; or\n(iv) in respect of subparagraph (ii) – as a drainer; or\n\nPart 6 Offences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 18\n(v) as a plumber and drainer; or\n(b) carry out work required to be done by:\n(i) a journeyman plumber unless the person holds a\nregistration card for a journeyman plumber; or\n(ii) a journeyman drainer unless the person holds a\nregistration card for a journeyman drainer.\nMaximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 6 months.\nFor a second or subsequent offence –\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n39 Non-application of section 38\n(1) In this section:\napproved cold water plumbing installation means a plumbing\ninstallation that:\n(a) does not include an electrical heating element; and\n(b) was installed by a person who, at the time of the installation,\nheld a registration card or licence allowing the person lawfully\nto do so.\n(2) Section 38 does not apply if:\n(a) the owner (being the occupier) of land repairs or replaces on\nthe land an existing fitting that forms part of an approved cold\nwater installation; and\n(b) the replacement fitting is of a standard or quality not less than\nthe existing fitting; and\n(c) the repair or replacement does not substantially change the\nfunction or location of the installation.\n(3) Notwithstanding section 38, a person who does not hold a licence\nor registration card may:\n(a) carry out work on a plumbing installation situated on land that\nis located in a plumbing licence area where the installation is\nor is intended to be connected to a bore on that land; or\n\nPart 6 Offences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 19\n(b) install a watering or drip system used or intended to be used\nfor irrigation purposes that is:\n(i) located above or below the ground; and\n(ii) not connected to the Territory water supply system.\n40 Carrying out work while under suspension\n(1) A person shall not, while his licence is suspended, carry out or\nundertake to carry out plumbing or draining work required by this\nAct to be carried out by an advanced tradesman.\nMaximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 6 months.\nFor a second or subsequent offence –\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n(2) A person shall not work as a journeyman while his registration card\nis suspended.\nMaximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or\nimprisonment for 6 months.\nFor a second or subsequent offence –\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n41 Fraudulent use or reproduction of licence, &c.\nA person shall not:\n(a) forge or fraudulently alter or use, or fraudulently lend or allow\nto be used by any person, a licence, registration card or\nreciprocity certificate or a duplicate of any of those documents;\nor\n(b) without lawful excuse have in his possession a licence,\nregistration card or reciprocity certificate or a duplicate of any\nof those documents or an article resembling or purporting to\nbe any of those documents and calculated to deceive.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units or imprisonment for\n12 months.\n\nPart 6 Offences\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 20\n42 False statements\n(1) A person must not make a false or misleading statement to the\nBoard about a matter before the Board.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n(2) A person must not make a false or misleading statement to an\nauthorised officer about a registration card or licence.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n43 Insufficient supervision or control\nFor work carried out under this Act, an advanced tradesman must\nnot:\n(a) fail to exercise any; or\n(b) exercise insufficient,\ndirection over a journeyman, apprentice or other worker employed\nby him or under his control.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n44 Registration cards and licences\n(1) A person shall return to the Board his registration card or licence:\n(a) where it has been cancelled or expired – within 28 days of the\ncancellation or expiry; or\n(b) where the Board has notified him that it will not be renewed –\nwithin 28 days of that notification.\nMaximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.\n(2) A person shall, on request, produce his current registration card or\nlicence to the owner or occupier of land on which he has carried out\nor proposes to carry out any work of plumbing or draining.\nMaximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.\n45 Employment of tradesman not licensed by Board\nA person shall not employ a person:\n(a) as an advanced tradesman – unless that other person holds a\nlicence; or\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 21\n(b) as a journeyman – unless that other person holds a\nregistration card,\nissued by the Board.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\n46 Notification of change of address\nA holder of a registration card or licence shall notify the Board,\nwithin 21 days, of any change of his address.\nMaximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit.\n46A Regulatory offences\nAn offence of contravening or failing to comply with section 28(4),\n44, 45 or 46 is a regulatory offence.\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\n47 Service of notices\nA notice or other document required by or under this Act to be given\nto or served on any person may be given to or served on that\nperson:\n(a) by delivering it to him; or\n(b) by leaving it at his last known address; or\n(c) by sending it by post to that address.\n48 Powers and duties of authorised officer\n(1) If an authorised officer reasonably believes an offence against this\nAct has been, is being or is about to be committed, the officer may\nenter any land for either or both of the following purposes:\n(a) preparing a report about the offence for submission to the\nBoard;\n(b) taking other action under this Act or the Building Act 1993 as\nthe officer considers appropriate.\n(2) A person who is carrying out plumbing or draining work must, if\nrequired to do so by an authorised officer, state whether he holds a\nregistration card or licence entitling him to carry out that work and\nproduce the registration card or licence, if any.\n\nPart 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and\nDrainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 22\n(3) A person referred to in subsection (2), having been required to do\nso by an authorised officer, must not:\n(a) refuse to state whether he holds a registration card or licence\nentitling him to carry out that work or refuse to produce a\nregistration card or licence, issued to him under this Act, that\nhe does possess; or\n(b) falsely state that he holds a registration card or licence\nentitling him to carry out that work.\nMaximum penalty: 4 penalty units.\n49 Regulations\n(1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be\nprescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying\nout or giving effect to this Act.\n(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations\nmay:\n(a) prescribe fees and scales of fees in respect of an application\nmade to the Board in accordance with this Act; and\n(b) provide for the remission of such fees in specified\ncircumstances; and\n(c) provide maximum penalties of 4 penalty units for offences\nagainst the Regulations.\nPart 8 Declarations relevant to period before\ncommencement of Plumbers and Drainers\nLicensing Amendment Act 2009\n50 Declarations about application of Act and validity of matters\non and after 1 January 2001 until commencement\n(1) The purpose of this section is to remove any doubt about the\nfollowing during the prescribed period:\n(a) the application of the Act because of the repeal of the Water\nSupply and Sewerage Act 1983 and the commencement of\nthe Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000;\n(b) the validity of the performance of a function or exercise of a\npower under the Act.\n\nPart 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and\nDrainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 23\n(2) During the prescribed period, it is declared that:\n(a) the Act continued to apply in relation to work carried out in\neach relevant area despite the repeal of the Water Supply and\nSewerage Act 1983; and\n(b) the performance of a function or exercise of a power under the\nAct was validly performed or exercised even if performed or\nexercised in relation to a relevant area.\n(3) A person cannot be held criminally liable in relation to an act or\nomission during the prescribed period in relation to work in a\nrelevant area only because of a declaration under this section.\n(4) In this section:\nexercise of a power includes the purported exercise of a power.\nperformance of a function includes the purported performance of\na function.\nprescribed period means the period starting on 1 January 2001\nand ending on the day immediately before the commencement of\nthis section.\nrelevant area means an area that, on 31 December 2000, was any\nof the following:\n(a) a sewerage district or water district declared or deemed to\nhave been declared under section 10 of the repealed Water\nSupply and Sewerage Act 1983;\n(b) a sewered area declared or deemed to be a sewered area\nunder section 12 of that Act;\n(c) a water supply area declared under section 13 of that Act.\nthe Act means this Act as in force from time to time during the\nprescribed period.\n\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation\nAmendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 24\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and\nAsian Relations Legislation Amendment\n(Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other\nMatters) Act 2026\n51 Definitions\nIn this Part:\namending Act means the Trade, Business and Asian Relations\nLegislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and\nOther Matters) Act 2026.\ncommencement means the commencement of section 27 of the\namending Act.\nformer review provision means Part 5 of the Act as in force\nimmediately before commencement.\n52 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement\nSection 36, as inserted by section Error! Reference source not\nfound. of the amending Act, applies only in relation to a reviewable\ndecision that is made after the commencement.\n53 Reviews not commenced before commencement\n(1) This section applies to a person if, immediately before the\ncommencement, the person:\n(a) was entitled to apply to the Local Court for a review of a\ndecision of the Board under the former review provision; and\n(b) had not yet made an application in relation to the decision.\n(2) The person may apply to the Local Court for a review of the\ndecision in accordance with the former review provision, as if\nsection 27 of the amending Act had not commenced.\n(3) The Local Court must hear and determine the application under\nsubsection (2) in accordance with the former review provision, as if\nsection 27 of the amending Act had not commenced.\n\nPart 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation\nAmendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 25\n54 Application made but not yet determined\n(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an application for a review of a\ndecision that:\n(a) was made by a person under the former review provision\nbefore the commencement; and\n(b) had not been finally determined in accordance with the\nformer provision before the commencement.\n(2) The Local Court must hear and determine the application in\naccordance with the former review provision, as if section 27 of the\namending Act had not commenced.\n\nSchedule Reviewable decisions\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 26\nSchedule Reviewable decisions\nsection 36\nItem Reviewable decision Affected person\n1 A decision of the Board under section 22A to\nrefuse to register an applicant as a\njourneyman\nThe applicant\n2 A decision of the Board under section 24 to\nrefuse to grant an applicant a licence of an\nadvanced tradesman\nThe applicant\n3 A decision of the Board under section 26 to\nrefuse to renew a registration card or licence\nThe applicant\n4 A decision of the Board under section 33 to\ntake action\nThe applicant\n5 A decision of the Board under section 35 to\nrefuse to reissue a registration card or licence\nThe applicant\n\nENDNOTES\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 27\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (Act No. 11, 1983)\nAssent date 27 April 1983\nCommenced 1 July 1983 (s 2, s 2 Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983\n(Act No. 12, 1983) and Gaz S21, 1 July 1983, p 1)\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 70, 1983)\nAssent date 28 November 1983\nCommenced 22 December 1983 (Gaz S41, 22 December 1983, p 2)\nCriminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 (Act No. 68, 1983)\nAssent date 28 November 1983\nCommenced 1 January 1984 (s 2, s 2 Criminal Code Act 1983 (Act No. 47,\n1983), Gaz G46, 18 November 1983, p 11 and Gaz G8,\n26 February 1986, p 5)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1988 (Act No. 66, 1988)\nAssent date 22 December 1988\nCommenced 22 December 1988\nStatue Law Revision Act 1989 (Act No. 60, 1989)\nAssent date 2 October 1989\nCommenced 2 October 1989\nPublic Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993\n(Act No. 28, 1993)\nAssent date 30 June 1993\nCommenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,\n29 June 1993)\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 49, 2003)\nAssent date 18 September 2003\nCommenced 18 September 2003\n\nENDNOTES\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 28\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 26, 2009)\nAssent date 1 September 2009\nCommenced 14 October 2009 (Gaz G41, 14 October 2009, p 2)\nPersonal Property Securities (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010\n(Act No. 30, 2010)\nAssent date 9 September 2010\nCommenced ss 58 to 60: 30 January 2012 (S 2, 24 January 2012);\nrem: 25 November 2011 (Gaz,S68, 25 November 2011)\nPenalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No. 23, 2013)\nAssent date 12 July 2013\nCommenced 28 August 2013 (Gaz G35, 28 August 2013, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2014 (Act No. 38, 2014)\nAssent date 13 November 2014\nCommenced 13 November 2014\nTraining and Skills Development Act 2016 (Act No. 25, 2016)\nAssent date 29 June 2016\nCommenced 4 July 2016 (Gaz S61, 4 July 2016)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2018 (Act No. 10, 2018)\nAssent date 23 May 2018\nCommenced 20 June 2018 (Gaz S41, 20 June 2018)\nTrade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing\nSchemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 (Act No. 2, 2026)\nAssent date 9 February 2026\nCommenced 10 February 2026 (s 2)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 6, 48 and 50.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\npt I hdg\n(now pt 1) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 2A ins No. 49, 2003, s 3\ns 3 amd No. 70, 1983, s 4; No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 49, 2003, s 4; No. 26, 2009,\ns 4; No. 38, 2014, s 2; No. 25, 2016, s 112; No. 2, 2026, s 28\ns 4 amd No. 26, 2009, s 5\npt II hdg\n(now pt 2) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 6 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 49, 2003, s 5; No. 26, 2009,\ns 15\ns 7 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 10 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 49, 2003, s 6; No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 11 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 13 amd No. 49, 2003, s 7\ns 16 amd No. 49, 2003, s 8; No. 26, 2009, s 6\npt III hdg rep No. 49, 2003, s 9\n\nENDNOTES\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 29\npt 3 hdg ins No. 26, 2009, s 7\ns 17 rep No. 49, 2003, s 9\nins No. 26, 2009, s 7\nss 18 – 21 rep No. 49, 2003, s 9\npt IV hdg\n(now pt 4) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 22 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10\namd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 22A ins No. 49, 2003, s 10\namd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 23 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10\namd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 24 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10\namd No. 26, 2009, s 8\ns 26 amd No. 49, 2003, s 11; No. 2, 2026, s 29\ns 28 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 29 amd No. 49, 2003, s 12; No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 30 amd No. 49, 2003, s 13; No. 26, 2009, s 9\ns 31 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 33 amd No. 49, 2003, s 14; No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 34 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 10, 2018, s 6\ns 35 amd No. 49, 2003, s 15\ns 35A ins No. 30, 2010, s 43\npt IVA hdg\n(now pt 5) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\nsub No. 2, 2026, s 30\ns 36 sub No. 49, 2003 s 16\nsub No. 2, 2026, s 30\ns 36A ins No. 49, 2003, s 16\nrep No. 2, 2026, s 30\ns 37 amd No. 66, 1988, s 6\nsub No. 49, 2003 s 16\nrep No. 2, 2026, s 30\ns 37A ins No. 49, 2003, s 16\namd No. 26, 2009, s 15\nrep No. 2, 2026, s 30\npt V hdg\n(now pt 6) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 38 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12; No. 10,\n2018, s 6\ns 39 amd No. 26, 2009, s 10\ns 40 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 41 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 42 sub No. 26, 2009, s 11\namd No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 43 amd No. 26, 2009, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 12\nss 44 – 46 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 46A ins No. 68, 1983, s 75\npt VI hdg\n(now pt 7) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 47 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15\ns 48 amd No. 26, 2009, s 13; No. 23, 2013, s 12\ns 49 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12\npt 8 hdg ins No. 26, 2009, s 14\ns 50 rep No. 49, 2003, s 17\nins No. 26, 2009, s 14\ns 51 ins No. 70, 1983, s 5\nrep No. 49, 2003, s 17\n\nENDNOTES\nPlumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 30\ns 52 ins No. 70, 1983, s 5\nrep No. 49, 2003, s 17\npt 9 hdg ins No. 2, 2026, s 31\nss 51 – 54 ins No. 2, 2026, s 31\nsch ins No. 2, 2026, s 31","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act's core scope — licensing, registration and regulation of plumbers and drainers to protect public health and safety — remains the same as its original purpose (see s2A). Subsequent amendments (including reciprocity provisions, procedural detail, regulatory offence classification, and the move of review jurisdiction to NTCAT in 2026) modify administrative mechanisms, appeal routes and technical criteria, but they do not materially expand the substantive range of activities the Act governs. In short, the subject-matter and the restriction that only licensed advanced tradesmen may contract for plumbing/draining work remain the central, unchanged scope; recent changes are primarily administrative and procedural."},"complexity_factors":["Around 54 substantive sections plus a Schedule (Parts 1–9 and Schedule) with multiple amendments over time","Approximately 20–25 defined terms concentrated in section 3 and used throughout (eg. advanced tradesman, journeyman, reciprocity certificate, plumbing licence area)","Multiple cross-references to external legislation (Building Act 1993, Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000, Training and Skills Development Act 2016, Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014) increasing interpretive complexity","Board discretion in several places (broad powers in s16; discretion to accept overseas qualifications in s22A(2)(c) and s24(2)(a)(iii); fee remission s16(2)(e))","Nested exceptions and conditional rules (eg. primary prohibition in s38 with detailed exceptions in s39; renewal late-application rules in s26(2) and s27)","Administrative and procedural detail for disciplinary process (show cause notice s31, hearing rules s32, sanctions s33, reissue/reinstatement s34–35) with evidentiary and admissibility conditions","A shift in review forum and associated transitional provisions (Part 9: ss51–54) requiring attention to timing and transitional rights","Penalty structure with different severity levels (regulatory offences vs criminal penalties; imprisonment in some offences—ss38, 40, 41) and some offences designated regulatory (s46A)","Delegation, appointment and membership rules for the Board (ss6–11, s15) that affect governance and practical operation","Reliance on regulations for fees and further procedural matters (s49), leaving some operational detail outside the principal Act"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (plain terms)**\n\n- This Act sets the rules for who may work as a plumber or drainer in areas of the Northern Territory that the Minister declares are covered by the law (a \"plumbing licence area\") (see s17, s4).\n- It establishes a Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board (the Board) to decide who is qualified, to issue and renew licences and journeyman registration cards, to suspend or cancel them, and to enforce the law (see ss5–16, s16).\n- Only a person who holds an \"advanced tradesman\" licence may contract to do plumbing or draining work on their own account (i.e. operate as the principal contractor). Journeymen must be registered and work under the supervision of an advanced tradesman (see s38(1)–(3), definitions in s3).\n- The Board runs application, renewal and disciplinary processes for:\n  - registration cards for journeymen (ss22, 22A);\n  - licences for advanced tradesmen (ss23, 24);\n  - reciprocity certificates for people certified in other Australian jurisdictions or New Zealand through ANZRA (ss29, 22A(2)(b), 24(2)(a)(iii)).\n- The Act creates criminal and regulatory offences for doing restricted plumbing or draining work without the required licence/registration, working while suspended, making false statements, failing to return cancelled licences, employing unlicensed persons, and related conduct (see Part 6: ss38–46A). Penalties for many offences are set in penalty units and can include imprisonment (see s38, s40, s41, s42).\n- Affected people can seek review of certain Board decisions (for example refusal to register, refuse to licence, refuse to renew or disciplinary decisions) through the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) as set out in s36 and the Schedule. Recent transitional provisions preserve older review rights for matters already in train (Part 9: ss51–54).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Individuals who undertake plumbing or draining work in declared licence areas: prospective and current journeymen and advanced tradesmen (ss3, 22, 23, 38).\n- Businesses and employers who hire plumbers or drainers (they must not employ unlicensed advanced tradesmen or unregistered journeymen) (s45).\n- Owners/occupiers doing small repairs to their own approved cold water systems have limited exemptions (s39).\n- The Board, the Minister and authorised officers who inspect and enforce the rules (ss5–16, s48).\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose and practical effect)**\n\n- The Act’s stated object is to protect community health and welfare by licensing people who do plumbing and draining work, while allowing certain limited unlicensed activity, promoting reciprocity with other jurisdictions, and maintaining uniform standards in the trades (s2A).\n- Mechanically, the law does this by: setting minimum qualification and experience criteria for registration/licensing (ss22A, 24), reserving the right to contract and supervise plumbing/draining work to licensed advanced tradesmen (s38), and exposing unlicensed or unsafe practice to penalties and disciplinary sanction (Part 6 and ss30–35).\n\n**Practical consequences, costs and incentives (tested against the Act's provisions)**\n\n- Who pays: applicants and licence holders pay prescribed application, renewal and replacement fees (s16(2)(d), s22(1)(c), s23(1)(c), s28(2)(c); regulations may prescribe fees—s49(2)(a)). Employers pay a compliance cost because they must ensure staff hold appropriate cards/licenses (s45). Consumers may face higher prices if the supply of contractors is constrained by licensing.\n\n- Who decides: the Board has broad discretionary powers to assess qualifications, conduct hearings and impose sanctions (s16, s31–33). The Minister appoints Board members and may declare licence areas (ss7, 11, 17). The Board may delegate many of its powers (s15).\n\n- Behaviour changes and incentives: advanced tradesmen licences give the holder the exclusive legal ability to contract for plumbing/draining work (s38(1), 38(3)(a)). That creates an incentive for workers to obtain licences or to work under supervision. Employers are incentivised to verify licences (s48(2), s45). The sanctions regime (ss38–41) creates deterrence; the Board’s power to suspend or cancel licences (s30–33) creates an administrative incentive for licence-holders to maintain standards and supervision (s30(2)(d), s43).\n\n- Compliance burden and administrative cost: upfront and ongoing costs are fees, documentary requirements (approved forms, statutory declarations—ss22(1), 22(2), 23(2)), renewal cycles (valid up to 3 years—s25; renewal window and possible refusal if late—s26), and obligations to notify change of address (s46). The Board’s broad information-gathering and hearing powers (s16(2)(a),(b), s31–32) increase administrative compliance obligations.\n\n- Discretion and implementation risk: several provisions give the Board wide discretion (s16) to judge competence, accept equivalent overseas qualifications (s22A(2)(c), s24(2)(a)(iii)), and to remit fees for teachers (s16(2)(e)). Those discretionary powers make consistent implementation dependent on Board practice and resourcing. Delegation (s15) and Ministerial appointment powers (ss7, 11) insert administrative choices that affect how the law operates in practice.\n\n- Trade-offs and substitution effects: the law narrows who can contract for plumbing/draining (s38). If enforcement is strict, this reduces the pool of persons legally able to act as principal contractors and can raise consumer prices; if enforcement is weak, the risk of unlicensed competition and safety issues remains. Exemptions for certain owner repairs, bore-connected systems and irrigation systems (s39(2)–(3)) create substitution opportunities for work done outside the licensing regime.\n\n- Reciprocity and mobility: the Act provides for recognition of qualifications certified through the Australia–New Zealand Reciprocity Association (ANZRA) and allows the Board to accept equivalent overseas qualifications if criteria are met (ss22A(2)(b),(c), s29, s24(2)(a)(iii)). This eases mobility for tradespeople certified elsewhere, subject to Board assessment (including English-language and experience conditions in s22A(3)).\n\n**Enforcement and review paths**\n\n- Authorised officers may enter land to investigate suspected offences and require production of licences/registration cards (s48). Certain minor breaches are designated regulatory offences (s46A), which affects prosecution and penalty processes.\n- Affected persons may seek review of specified Board decisions at NTCAT (s36 and Schedule). Transitional provisions (Part 9, ss51–54) deal with the shift from the former Local Court review route to NTCAT for decisions made after the recent amending Act.\n\n**Concrete implementation considerations**\n\n- The Board must publish an annual report and keep records (s13, s12(4)), which creates an observable compliance footprint for oversight.\n- The Act leaves fees, some particulars of procedure and additional penalties to regulation (s49), so further compliance details depend on the regulations made under the Act.\n\n**Key sections to look at for specific tasks**\n\n- Who decides/appoints Board members: ss7, 11\n- Licence/registration criteria: ss22A, 24\n- Who may contract work: s38\n- Exemptions for owners/irrigation/bore systems: s39\n- Disciplinary process and sanctions: ss30–35\n- Review rights: s36 and Schedule\n- Fees and regulations: ss16(2)(d), s49\n\n(References above are to section numbers in the Act.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown beyond its original 1983 scope through significant amendments. The 2003 amendments introduced substantial restructuring including the two-tier registration/licence system, show cause procedures, and detailed application processes. The 2009 amendments added Part 8 with retrospective validation provisions covering the period 2001-2009 to fix legislative uncertainty. The 2026 amendments (Part 9) shifted the review mechanism from the Local Court to NTCAT (Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal), reflecting broader administrative law reforms. The original Act was simpler; current version includes complex transitional arrangements preserving old review rights while establishing new ones, and incorporates modern regulatory concepts like 'regulatory offences' (section 46A)."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (approximately 30 sections plus Schedule and transitional provisions)","Clear two-tier licensing structure (journeyman vs advanced tradesman) with distinct pathways","Multiple cross-references to other NT legislation (Building Act 1993, Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000, Training and Skills Development Act 2016, Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014)","Defined terms section with 15+ specific definitions including technical trade terms","Conditional logic for different applicant types (English-speaking vs non-English-speaking backgrounds for overseas qualifications)","Transitional provisions dealing with historical legislative changes (Part 8 covering 2001-2009 period, Part 9 covering 2026 amendments)","Show cause and hearing procedures for disciplinary actions (sections 31-33) with procedural safeguards","Multiple penalty tiers distinguishing first offences from subsequent offences","Specific exclusions and exemptions in section 39 creating conditional exceptions to the main offences"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's law that controls who can legally do plumbing and draining work. It sets up a licensing system to protect public health and safety by ensuring only qualified people work on water and sewerage systems.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Plumbers and drainers** – anyone who wants to work in these trades in the NT\n- **Apprentices** – people learning the trade who must work under supervision\n- **Journeymen** – qualified workers who can do the work but must be employed by and work under the direction of an advanced tradesman (they hold a \"registration card\")\n- **Advanced tradesmen** – fully licensed contractors who can run their own business and supervise others (they hold a \"licence\")\n- **Employers** – people who hire plumbers/drainers must ensure they are properly licensed\n- **Homeowners** – the law includes limited exceptions letting owners do minor repairs on their own cold water systems\n\n**The two-tier system:**\n\n1. **Journeyman registration** – for qualified workers who haven't yet qualified to run their own business. They must work under an advanced tradesman's supervision.\n2. **Advanced tradesman licence** – for experienced tradespeople who can contract work, run a business, and supervise apprentices and journeymen.\n\n**Key features:**\n\n- Establishes a **Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board** (5 members including industry reps, educators, and government officials) to issue licences, assess qualifications, and enforce standards\n- Allows **reciprocity** with other Australian states, territories and New Zealand through the Australia-New Zealand Reciprocity Association (ANZRA) – so qualifications from elsewhere can be recognised\n- Sets up a **review system** where people can appeal Board decisions to the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT)\n- Creates **offences** for working without a licence, working while suspended, faking documents, or employing unlicensed workers\n- Includes **exceptions** for certain work (like irrigation systems connected to bores, or homeowners doing minor repairs on cold water systems)\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nPlumbing and draining directly affect public health – contaminated water or faulty sewerage can make people seriously ill. This law ensures workers have proper training, creates accountability through licensing, and maintains standards across the Territory. It also allows for mutual recognition of qualifications across Australia and New Zealand, making it easier for qualified workers to move and work elsewhere."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983","history":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983/history","analysis":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/plumbers-and-drainers-licensing-act-1983/documents"}}