Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (Northern Territory)

This Act creates a licensing and registration scheme for the trades of plumbing and draining in the Northern Territory, establishes a statutory Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board to administer it, and sets out offences, enforcement powers and review rights. Its stated object is to protect community health and welfare by licensing persons to carry out plumbing and draining while allowing narrowly defined work to be done by unlicensed persons, providing for reciprocity with other jurisdictions and promoting uniformity of trade standards (s 2A). The Act applies in any plumbing licence area declared by the Minister (ss 4(1), 17), and binds the Crown (s 4(2)).

Mechanically the Act does the following things:

Establishes the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board, prescribes its composition, appointment process, tenure, meeting rules, reporting and powers (ss 5-16, 12-13). The Board examines, assesses, issues, renews, suspends and cancels registration cards for journeymen and licences for advanced tradesmen (s 16(1)(a)-(c), (e)). It keeps registers and may join interstate bodies (s 16(1)(e), (2)(c)).
Creates two classes of practitioner: journeyman (registration card) and advanced tradesman (licence). Advanced tradesmen are permitted to contract to carry out plumbing or draining on their own account and to supervise others; journeymen work under the direction of advanced tradesmen (definitions in s 3; advanced tradesman and journeyman roles described).
Sets application procedures, documentary requirements, and decision powers for registration and licensing, including powers to inquire, require statutory declarations and refuse applications (ss 22-24, 22A). The Board must give an information notice (decision, reasons and 21‑day Local Court review right) when it refuses (s 22A(5), s 24(4)).

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA PLUMBERS AND DRAINERS LICENSING ACT 1983 As in force at 10 February 2026 Table of provisions Part 1 Preliminary matters 1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1 2A Object of Act .................................................................................... 1 3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1 4 Application ....................................................................................... 3 Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board 5 Establishment of Board ................................................................... 3 6 Composition of Board ...................................................................... 4 7 Appointment of members................................................................. 4 8 Period of appointment ..................................................................... 4 9 Resignation of members .................................................................. 4 10 Dismissal of members ..................................................................... 5 11 Chairman ......................................................................................... 5 12 Meetings of Board ........................................................................... 6 13 Annual report ................................................................................... 6 14 Protection of Board and its members .............................................. 6 15 Delegation ....................................................................................... 7 16 Functions and powers of Board ....................................................... 7 Part 3 Plumbing licence areas 17 Minister may declare plumbing licence area .................................... 8 Part 4 Registration cards and licences 22 Application for registration as journeyman ....................................... 8 22A Deciding application for registration as journeyman ........................ 9 23 Application for licence as advanced tradesman............................. 10 24 Deciding application for licence as advanced tradesman .............. 10 25 Validity of registration card or licence ............................................ 11 26 Renewal of registration card or licence .......................................... 11 27 Renewal of endorsed licences ....................................................... 12 28 Copies of registration cards, licences or certificates ...................... 12 29 Reciprocity certificates ................................................................... 13 30 Cancellation or suspension of registration card or licence ............. 13 31 Show cause notice by Board ......................................................... 14 32 Procedure at hearing ..................................................................... 15

Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 ii 33 Action after hearing ....................................................................... 15 34 Application for reissue of registration card or licence .................... 15 35 Consideration of applications for reinstatement ............................. 16 35A Licence not transferable ................................................................ 16 Part 5 Review of decisions 36 Review by NTCAT ......................................................................... 16 Part 6 Offences 38 Carrying out work when unlicensed ............................................... 17 39 Non-application of section 38 ........................................................ 18 40 Carrying out work while under suspension .................................... 19 41 Fraudulent use or reproduction of licence, &c. .............................. 19 42 False statements ........................................................................... 20 43 Insufficient supervision or control .................................................. 20 44 Registration cards and licences ..................................................... 20 45 Employment of tradesman not licensed by Board ......................... 20 46 Notification of change of address .................................................. 21 46A Regulatory offences....................................................................... 21 Part 7 Miscellaneous 47 Service of notices .......................................................................... 21 48 Powers and duties of authorised officer ......................................... 21 49 Regulations.................................................................................... 22 Part 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 50 Declarations about application of Act and validity of matters on and after 1 January 2001 until commencement ............................. 22 Part 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 51 Definitions ...................................................................................... 24 52 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement.... 24 53 Reviews not commenced before commencement ......................... 24 54 Application made but not yet determined ...................................... 25 Schedule Reviewable decisions ENDNOTES

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

As in force at 10 February 2026

PLUMBERS AND DRAINERS LICENSING ACT 1983 An Act to provide for the licensing of plumbers and drainers and for other purposes Part 1 Preliminary matters 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983. 2 Commencement This Act shall come into operation on the commencement of the Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983. 2A Object of Act The object of this Act is to provide for the protection of the health and welfare of the community by: (a) licensing persons to carry out plumbing and draining in the Territory while at the same time allowing certain work to be carried out by unlicensed persons; (b) providing for reciprocity in relation to qualifications of plumbers and drainers with other jurisdictions; and (c) providing uniformity of standards in the trades in the Territory. 3 Definitions In this Act: advanced tradesman means a tradesman engaged in the trade of plumbing or of draining or both of those trades who is entitled under the provisions of this Act: (a) to carry out work on his own account in either or both of those trades; and

Part 1 Preliminary matters Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 2 (b) to direct and supervise the work of apprentices, journeymen and unqualified or unskilled workers. affected person, see section 36(2). apprentice, see section 4 of the Training and Skills Development Act 2016. approved means approved by the Board. Australia-New Zealand Reciprocity Association and ANZRA means the association of authorities each charged with the conduct of examinations as to the competency and certification of plumbers and drainers within its area. authorised officer, see section 4 of the Building Act 1993. Board means the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board established by this Act. Chairman means the Chairman of the Board appointed under section 11. draining means the work of excavating, installing, altering, removing or repairing sub-surface fittings or pipes designed to receive the discharge from soil or water pipes and carry that discharge to a common sewer, drain or septic tank. information notice, for a decision of the Board, means a written notice stating the following: (a) the decision; (b) the reasons for the decision; (c) the person given the notice may apply for a review of the decision to the Local Court within 21 days after receipt of the notice. journeyman means a tradesman engaged in the trade of plumbing or of draining or both of those trades who is working, as an operative, under the direction of an advanced tradesman, and who is eligible to exercise direction or supervision over apprentices or unqualified workers. jurisdiction means a State or Territory of the Commonwealth or New Zealand. land includes a building or structure erected on land.

Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 3 licence means a licence issued by the Board authorizing a tradesman to contract and undertake work of plumbing or draining, as the case may be, in the Territory. member means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. plumbing means the work of installing, altering, removing or repairing fixtures, fittings and pipes designed to receive and carry sewage or water, and the ventilation of those fixtures, fittings and pipes, and includes the installing, altering, repairing, maintaining, removing or connecting of a hot or cold water service to land. plumbing licence area means all or a part of the Territory declared under section 17 as an area of land to which this Act applies. prescribed Acts means the following: (a) this Act; (b) the Building Act 1993; (c) the Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000. reciprocity certificate means a certificate issued by the Board or by an authority which is a member of ANZRA, certifying that the holder meets an agreed standard in his trade. registration card means a registration card issued to a person registered under Part 4 as a journeyman. reviewable decision, see section 36(1). Note for section 36 The Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be relevant to this Act. 4 Application (1) This Act applies in relation to work carried out in a plumbing licence area. (2) This Act binds the Crown. Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board 5 Establishment of Board There is established by this Act a Board by the name of the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board.

Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 4 6 Composition of Board The Board shall consist of 5 members, being: (a) an employee of the Agency administering the Building Act 1993; and (b) a representative of those educational institutions in the Territory which provide training courses for apprentice plumbers and drainers; and (c) 2 persons each of whom holds qualifications as an advanced tradesman in the combined trades of plumbing and draining; and (d) a representative of the Northern Territory authority charged with registration of indentures of apprenticeship and oversight of the training of apprentices. 7 Appointment of members (1) Subject to this section, the Minister may, by Gazette notice, appoint a person to be a member. (2) The Minister shall not appoint a person for the purpose of section 6(b) unless he is satisfied that the person is currently engaged in teaching or examining, and is qualified to teach or examine, apprentices in the trades of plumbing and draining. (3) The Minister shall not appoint a person for the purpose of section 6(c) or (d) unless he has first given to the trade association that is representative of the tradesmen engaged in the trade of plumbing or draining or the Territory authority referred to in section 6(d), as the case may be, an opportunity to recommend persons to be so appointed. 8 Period of appointment Subject to this Part, a member holds office until the expiration of such period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the notice of his appointment, but is eligible for reappointment. 9 Resignation of members (1) A member, other than the member referred to in section 6(a), may resign his office by notice in writing signed by him and delivered to the Minister, but such resignation does not have effect until accepted by the Minister.

Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 5 (2) A member who ceases to hold the qualifications necessary for his appointment shall be deemed to have resigned, and his resignation shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Minister, on the date upon which he ceased to hold those qualifications. 10 Dismissal of members The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member: (a) on the ground of the member's: (i) inability, inefficiency, misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity; or (ii) absence, except on leave granted by the Board, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Board; or (iii) conviction and sentence to imprisonment for a period of 3 months or longer, for an offence against a law of the Territory, the Commonwealth, another Territory or a State; or (iv) becoming bankrupt, applying to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounding with his creditors or making an assignment of his remuneration for their benefit; or (b) on receipt of a recommendation: (ii) in the case of the member referred to in section 6(b), from the educational institution concerned; or (iii) in the case of a member referred to in section 6(c), where the Minister has appointed the person recommended under section 7(3) and the person no longer belongs to the trade association, from the trade association; or (iv) in the case of the member referred to in section 6(d), from the authority referred to in that section, that the Minister terminate the appointment of the member. 11 Chairman (1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, appoint one member to be the Chairman of the Board, and another to be the Deputy Chairman. (2) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he is present.

Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 6 (3) Where the Chairman is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the Deputy Chairman shall preside and, while presiding, shall have all the powers of the Chairman. 12 Meetings of Board (1) The Chairman shall call such meetings of the Board as are necessary for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions, but so that the interval between one meeting and the next does not exceed 3 months. (2) The Minister may at any time direct the Chairman to call a meeting of the Board and the Chairman shall call a meeting accordingly. (3) At a meeting of the Board: (a) the Chairman or, where the Chairman is absent, the Deputy Chairman and 2 members constitute a quorum; (b) questions arising shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting and in the event of an equality of votes the matter shall be taken to have been defeated; and (c) subject to this Act, the Board shall determine the procedure to be followed at or in connection with the meeting. (4) The Board shall keep a record of its meetings. 13 Annual report (1) Subject to subsection (3), the Board shall furnish to the Minister, not later than 31 December in each year, a report on its operations during the year ending on the preceding 30 September. (2) The Minister shall cause a copy of each report furnished to him under this section to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within 6 sitting days of the Legislative Assembly after it has been so furnished. 14 Protection of Board and its members (1) An act or proceeding of the Board shall not be invalidated or prejudiced by reason only of the fact that at the time when the act or proceeding was done, taken or commenced, there was a vacancy in the office of a member. (2) No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, shall lie against a member for or in respect of an act or thing done or omitted to be done in good faith by him in his capacity as a member.

Part 2 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 7 15 Delegation (1) The Board may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person any of its powers and functions under this Act, other than this power of delegation. (2) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised or performed by the delegate, shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to have been exercised or performed by the Board. (3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a function by the Board. 16 Functions and powers of Board (1) The functions of the Board are, in relation to the trades of plumbing and draining: (a) by means of examinations or otherwise, to assess the qualifications and suitability of persons to practise those trades; and (b) to issue or cancel reciprocity certificates for advanced tradesmen and journeymen; and (c) to issue, renew, suspend, cancel or reinstate: (i) registration cards for journeymen; and (ii) licences for advanced tradesmen; and (d) to issue replacement copies of lost or destroyed licences and registration cards; and (e) to maintain a register or registers of advanced tradesmen and journeymen; and (f) to enforce the provisions of this Act; and (g) to request and receive reports relating to inspections carried out under any of the prescribed Acts in relation to offences against any of those Acts or the workmanship of licensed plumbers or drainers or journeymen; and (h) to undertake such other functions as the Minister from time to time directs it to undertake in relation to the examination, licensing and registration of persons practising or seeking to practise those trades.

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 8 (2) In carrying out its functions the Board may: (a) make the inquiries the Board considers appropriate relating to: (i) an application for a licence or registration card; or (ii) the cancellation or suspension of a licence or registration card; or (iii) an application for a reciprocity certificate; and (b) conduct hearings at which it may call and examine witnesses and hear evidence; and (c) join appropriate associations of licensing or examining authorities and co-operate with other licensing or examining authorities; and (d) collect the fees or charges prescribed for the issue, renewal or replacement of licences and registration cards; and (e) in its discretion remit all or part of the prescribed licence fee where an applicant for a licence is employed solely in a teaching capacity; and (f) do all other things which it considers necessary or convenient for and incidental to the performance of its functions. Part 3 Plumbing licence areas 17 Minister may declare plumbing licence area (1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare all or a part of the Territory as an area of land to which this Act applies. (2) A declaration may refer to an area of land by describing the land or referring to a map or plan of the land. (3) A declaration may provide that it takes effect on the date of the Gazette notice or a later date. Part 4 Registration cards and licences 22 Application for registration as journeyman (1) An application for registration as a journeyman in the trade of plumbing or draining, or both the trades, must: (a) be made to the Board in the approved form; and

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 9 (b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to enable the Board to decide the application, including the documents and information specified in the approved form; and (c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (2) The Board may require a document or information that is required to accompany the application be made or verified by statutory declaration. 22A Deciding application for registration as journeyman (1) On receipt of the application, the Board: (a) may make the inquiries regarding the qualifications, experience and competence of the applicant it considers appropriate; and (b) must either grant or refuse to grant the application. (2) The Board may grant the application only if satisfied the applicant: (a) has successfully completed the academic course or courses, and the practical training, approved by the Board as appropriate to the applicant; or (b) holds a reciprocity certificate (operative level) issued by a member authority of ANZRA; or (c) holds an equivalent qualification gained elsewhere than in Australia or New Zealand that is recognised by ANZRA; or (d) has another qualification and experience that, in the Board's assessment, are a sufficient basis for registration. (3) If the applicant holds a qualification mentioned in subsection (2)(c), the Board must be satisfied: (a) if the qualification was obtained in a country where instruction in the trades of plumbing and draining is given in English – the applicant has been employed in Australia in the relevant trade as an unqualified worker under the supervision of qualified tradesmen for at least 3 months; or (b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, the applicant: (i) has been employed in Australia in the relevant trade as an unqualified worker under the supervision of qualified tradesmen for at least 12 months; and

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 10 (ii) is able to give and receive oral and written instructions in English. (4) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly: (a) register the applicant as a journeyman in the trade of plumbing or draining or both the trades; and (b) issue and send to the applicant a registration card. (5) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must promptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision. 23 Application for licence as advanced tradesman (1) An application for a licence as an advanced tradesman in the trade of plumbing or draining, or both the trades, must: (a) be made to the Board in the approved form; and (b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to enable the Board to decide the application, including the documents and information specified in the approved form; and (c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (2) The Board may require a document or information that is required to accompany the application be made or verified by statutory declaration. 24 Deciding application for licence as advanced tradesman (1) On receipt of the application, the Board: (a) may make the inquiries regarding the qualifications, experience and competence of the applicant it considers appropriate; and (b) must either grant or refuse to grant the application. (2) The Board may grant the application only if satisfied the applicant: (a) has one of the following qualifications: (i) a registration card as a journeyman plumber or drainer or journeyman plumber and drainer; (ii) a qualification for registration as a journeyman plumber or drainer or journeyman plumber and drainer;

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 11 (iii) a reciprocity certificate (advanced level) issued by a member authority of ANZRA in the trade of plumbing or draining or both the trades; and (b) is competent to: (i) assess the scope and technical requirements of plumbing or draining under a contract; and (ii) determine the skills and resources necessary to carry out the work; and (iii) put in place appropriate arrangements for carrying out the work properly and safely in compliance with the prescribed Acts; and (c) has successfully completed an approved advanced trade practices and management course as appropriate to the applicant. (3) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly: (a) issue and send to the applicant a licence in the trade of plumbing or draining or both the trades; and (b) record the issue of the licence in the register kept by it. (4) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must promptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision. 25 Validity of registration card or licence Subject to this Act, a registration card or a licence is valid for such period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the registration card or licence. 26 Renewal of registration card or licence (1) A person may, within 3 months before the expiry of his current registration card or licence, including a licence endorsed "not eligible for reciprocity", apply to the Board for renewal of that registration card or licence. (2) Subject to section 27, the Board may decline to accept an application for renewal of a registration card or licence if it is submitted after the expiry of the registration card or licence previously held by the applicant, and in such a case the Board shall require the applicant to submit an application under section 22 or 23, as the case may be.

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 12 (3) An application for renewal of a registration card or licence shall be made in the approved form and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (4) The Board, in considering an application for renewal of a registration card or licence, may make such inquiries as it thinks fit regarding the conduct and competence of the applicant as a journeyman or advanced tradesman, as the case may be. (5) If the Board decides to grant the application, it must promptly: (a) issue and send to the applicant a registration card or licence; and (b) record the issue of the registration card or licence in the appropriate register kept by it. (6) If the Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must promptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision. (7) If an application for renewal is made while the licence or registration card is still in force, the licence or registration card remains in force until the date that the applicant is notified of the outcome of the renewal application. (8) If an application for renewal is granted, the renewed licence or registration card is taken to have commenced on the date following the expiry date of the licence or registration card it renews. 27 Renewal of endorsed licences (1) The Board shall accept an application to renew a licence endorsed "not eligible for reciprocity" of an applicant who has applied for renewal of the licence within 12 months after the date upon which it expired and shall deal with it. (2) The Board shall not renew a licence endorsed "not eligible for reciprocity" of an applicant who has failed to apply for renewal of the licence within 12 months after the date upon which it expired, and may require the applicant for renewal to apply for a licence under section 23. 28 Copies of registration cards, licences or certificates (1) A person whose registration card or licence issued by the Board has been lost or destroyed may apply to the Board for the issue of a copy of that registration card or licence.

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 13 (2) An application made under subsection (1) shall be: (a) in the approved form; and (b) accompanied by a statutory declaration setting out the circumstances of the loss or destruction of the registration card or licence; and (c) accompanied by the prescribed fee. (3) If the Board is satisfied that a registration card or licence was lost or destroyed, it shall issue a copy thereof to the applicant. (4) If a person to whom a copy registration card or copy licence has been issued under this section subsequently finds the original registration card or licence, he shall return the copy to the Board. Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit. 29 Reciprocity certificates (1) A person who is entitled to be the holder of a registration card or licence because of qualifications obtained in the Territory may apply to the Board for a reciprocity certificate. (1A) The application must: (a) be in the approved form; and (b) be accompanied by sufficient documents and information to enable the Board to decide the application, including the documents and information specified in the approved form; and (c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee. (2) Where a reciprocity certificate issued by the Board has been lost or destroyed, the Board may, on request, issue a written statement to the effect that the loss of the certificate has been reported to it, but it shall not issue a replacement certificate. 30 Cancellation or suspension of registration card or licence (1) The Board may cancel a registration card or a licence where such registration card or licence was issued in error or as a result of a false or misleading statement by the applicant.

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 14 (2) The Board may take any of the actions referred to in section 33 in relation to a person who holds a registration card or a licence where that person: (a) has committed an offence against any of the prescribed Acts; or (b) has carried out work in a trade to which this Act relates in respect of which he does not hold a registration card or licence; or (c) is, having regard to the person's conduct and competence, no longer a suitable person to hold a registration card or licence; or (d) in the case of an advanced tradesman – has not ensured, or is not in a position to ensure, work carried out under the licence is properly and adequately managed or supervised; or (e) in the case of a journeyman, has contracted to undertake or has undertaken work that is required by this Act to be undertaken by an advanced tradesman. 31 Show cause notice by Board (1) The Board shall, before taking any action against a person under section 30(2), give that person at least 14 days notice in writing to show cause why his registration card or licence should not be cancelled or suspended or a warning issued to him. (2) A notice given under subsection (1) shall: (a) state the reason or reasons why the Board thinks the proposed action may be warranted; and (b) indicate the date, time and place where the Board proposes to hold a hearing to consider the matter; and (c) specify the documents, if any, that the Board considers relevant to the proposed action. (3) The Board may require a person to whom notice has been given under subsection (1) to produce to it such documents as are specified in the notice. (4) The holder of a registration card or licence to whom notice has been given under subsection (1) may present his case in person at the hearing referred to in subsection (2)(b) or may submit a statement to the Board in the form of a statutory declaration.

Part 4 Registration cards and licences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 15 32 Procedure at hearing (1) At a hearing referred to in section 31, the person to whom a notice has been given under that section may call and examine witnesses. (2) A person is not excused from answering a question when required to do so at a hearing referred to in section 31 on the ground that the answer to the question might tend to incriminate him or make him liable to a penalty, but his answer to a question is not admissible against him in any proceedings other than proceedings for an offence against section 42(1). (3) Subject to this section, the Board may determine the procedure to be adopted at a hearing. 33 Action after hearing (1) After a hearing referred to in section 31 has been held, the Board may, if satisfied that there are grounds for so doing: (a) cancel a person's registration card or licence; or (b) suspend a person's registration card for a period not exceeding 12 months; or (c) suspend a person's licence for a period not exceeding 2 years; or (d) issue a warning to a person holding the registration card or licence. (2) If the Board decides to take action under subsection (1), it must promptly give the person an information notice for the decision. 34 Application for reissue of registration card or licence (1) Where a registration card has been cancelled and the former holder has continued to work as an unqualified worker under the supervision of advanced tradesmen or journeymen for a minimum period of one year following the cancellation, he may apply to the Board for the reissue to him of his registration card. (2) Where a licence other than a licence endorsed "not eligible for reciprocity" has been cancelled and the former holder has continued to work as a journeyman plumber or drainer for a minimum period of 2 years following the cancellation, he may apply to the Board for the reissue to him of his licence.

Part 5 Review of decisions Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 16 (3) An application under subsection (1) or (2) must be in the approved form and must be accompanied by: (a) proof of the applicant's continued employment by an advanced tradesman; and (b) 2 character references, at least one of which is a reference from a person engaged in either or both of the trades of plumbing and draining who has employed the applicant during the period immediately before the application; and (c) details of the applicant's previous registration card or licence; and (d) the prescribed application fee. 35 Consideration of applications for reinstatement (1) The Board, after having made such inquiries in relation to an application under section 34 as it thinks fit, and having considered the application, may either: (a) reissue the registration card or licence; or (b) refuse to reissue the registration card or licence. (2) Where the Board reissues a registration card or licence, the term of the reissued registration card or licence shall expire on the next common expiry date of registration cards and licences issued under this Act. (3) If the Board refuses to reissue a registration card or licence, it must promptly give the applicant an information notice for the decision. 35A Licence not transferable A licence is not transferable by the licensee. Part 5 Review of decisions 36 Review by NTCAT (1) NTCAT has jurisdiction to review a decision (a reviewable decision) specified in the Schedule. (2) An affected person, for a reviewable decision, is a person specified in the Schedule for the decision.

Part 6 Offences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 17 (3) An affected person for a reviewable decision may apply to NTCAT for review of the decision. Note for section 36 The Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 sets out the procedure for applying to NTCAT for review and other relevant matters in relation to reviews. Part 6 Offences 38 Carrying out work when unlicensed (1) Subject to section 39, a person shall not, for reward or otherwise, carry out or undertake to carry out on his own account any work of plumbing or of draining unless he holds a licence as an advanced tradesman in that trade. Maximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months. For a second or subsequent offence – 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (2) Subject to section 39, a person who does not hold a registration card or licence shall not carry out plumbing or draining work otherwise than in the employment of an advanced tradesman and under the supervision of an advanced tradesman or a journeyman. Maximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months. For a second or subsequent offence – 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (3) A person must not, for reward or otherwise: (a) carry out or contract to carry out: (i) plumbing work; or (ii) draining work, unless the person holds a licence: (iii) in respect of subparagraph (i) – as a plumber; or (iv) in respect of subparagraph (ii) – as a drainer; or

Part 6 Offences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 18 (v) as a plumber and drainer; or (b) carry out work required to be done by: (i) a journeyman plumber unless the person holds a registration card for a journeyman plumber; or (ii) a journeyman drainer unless the person holds a registration card for a journeyman drainer. Maximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months. For a second or subsequent offence – 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. 39 Non-application of section 38 (1) In this section: approved cold water plumbing installation means a plumbing installation that: (a) does not include an electrical heating element; and (b) was installed by a person who, at the time of the installation, held a registration card or licence allowing the person lawfully to do so. (2) Section 38 does not apply if: (a) the owner (being the occupier) of land repairs or replaces on the land an existing fitting that forms part of an approved cold water installation; and (b) the replacement fitting is of a standard or quality not less than the existing fitting; and (c) the repair or replacement does not substantially change the function or location of the installation. (3) Notwithstanding section 38, a person who does not hold a licence or registration card may: (a) carry out work on a plumbing installation situated on land that is located in a plumbing licence area where the installation is or is intended to be connected to a bore on that land; or

Part 6 Offences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 19 (b) install a watering or drip system used or intended to be used for irrigation purposes that is: (i) located above or below the ground; and (ii) not connected to the Territory water supply system. 40 Carrying out work while under suspension (1) A person shall not, while his licence is suspended, carry out or undertake to carry out plumbing or draining work required by this Act to be carried out by an advanced tradesman. Maximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months. For a second or subsequent offence – 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (2) A person shall not work as a journeyman while his registration card is suspended. Maximum penalty: For a first offence – 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months. For a second or subsequent offence – 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. 41 Fraudulent use or reproduction of licence, &c. A person shall not: (a) forge or fraudulently alter or use, or fraudulently lend or allow to be used by any person, a licence, registration card or reciprocity certificate or a duplicate of any of those documents; or (b) without lawful excuse have in his possession a licence, registration card or reciprocity certificate or a duplicate of any of those documents or an article resembling or purporting to be any of those documents and calculated to deceive. Maximum penalty: 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months.

Part 6 Offences Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 20 42 False statements (1) A person must not make a false or misleading statement to the Board about a matter before the Board. Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units. (2) A person must not make a false or misleading statement to an authorised officer about a registration card or licence. Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units. 43 Insufficient supervision or control For work carried out under this Act, an advanced tradesman must not: (a) fail to exercise any; or (b) exercise insufficient, direction over a journeyman, apprentice or other worker employed by him or under his control. Maximum penalty: 15 penalty units. 44 Registration cards and licences (1) A person shall return to the Board his registration card or licence: (a) where it has been cancelled or expired – within 28 days of the cancellation or expiry; or (b) where the Board has notified him that it will not be renewed – within 28 days of that notification. Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit. (2) A person shall, on request, produce his current registration card or licence to the owner or occupier of land on which he has carried out or proposes to carry out any work of plumbing or draining. Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit. 45 Employment of tradesman not licensed by Board A person shall not employ a person: (a) as an advanced tradesman – unless that other person holds a licence; or

Part 7 Miscellaneous Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 21 (b) as a journeyman – unless that other person holds a registration card, issued by the Board. Maximum penalty: 15 penalty units. 46 Notification of change of address A holder of a registration card or licence shall notify the Board, within 21 days, of any change of his address. Maximum penalty: 0.8 penalty unit. 46A Regulatory offences An offence of contravening or failing to comply with section 28(4), 44, 45 or 46 is a regulatory offence. Part 7 Miscellaneous 47 Service of notices A notice or other document required by or under this Act to be given to or served on any person may be given to or served on that person: (a) by delivering it to him; or (b) by leaving it at his last known address; or (c) by sending it by post to that address. 48 Powers and duties of authorised officer (1) If an authorised officer reasonably believes an offence against this Act has been, is being or is about to be committed, the officer may enter any land for either or both of the following purposes: (a) preparing a report about the offence for submission to the Board; (b) taking other action under this Act or the Building Act 1993 as the officer considers appropriate. (2) A person who is carrying out plumbing or draining work must, if required to do so by an authorised officer, state whether he holds a registration card or licence entitling him to carry out that work and produce the registration card or licence, if any.

Part 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 22 (3) A person referred to in subsection (2), having been required to do so by an authorised officer, must not: (a) refuse to state whether he holds a registration card or licence entitling him to carry out that work or refuse to produce a registration card or licence, issued to him under this Act, that he does possess; or (b) falsely state that he holds a registration card or licence entitling him to carry out that work. Maximum penalty: 4 penalty units. 49 Regulations (1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations may: (a) prescribe fees and scales of fees in respect of an application made to the Board in accordance with this Act; and (b) provide for the remission of such fees in specified circumstances; and (c) provide maximum penalties of 4 penalty units for offences against the Regulations. Part 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 50 Declarations about application of Act and validity of matters on and after 1 January 2001 until commencement (1) The purpose of this section is to remove any doubt about the following during the prescribed period: (a) the application of the Act because of the repeal of the Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983 and the commencement of the Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000; (b) the validity of the performance of a function or exercise of a power under the Act.

Part 8 Declarations relevant to period before commencement of Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 23 (2) During the prescribed period, it is declared that: (a) the Act continued to apply in relation to work carried out in each relevant area despite the repeal of the Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983; and (b) the performance of a function or exercise of a power under the Act was validly performed or exercised even if performed or exercised in relation to a relevant area. (3) A person cannot be held criminally liable in relation to an act or omission during the prescribed period in relation to work in a relevant area only because of a declaration under this section. (4) In this section: exercise of a power includes the purported exercise of a power. performance of a function includes the purported performance of a function. prescribed period means the period starting on 1 January 2001 and ending on the day immediately before the commencement of this section. relevant area means an area that, on 31 December 2000, was any of the following: (a) a sewerage district or water district declared or deemed to have been declared under section 10 of the repealed Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983; (b) a sewered area declared or deemed to be a sewered area under section 12 of that Act; (c) a water supply area declared under section 13 of that Act. the Act means this Act as in force from time to time during the prescribed period.

Part 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 24 Part 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 51 Definitions In this Part: amending Act means the Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026. commencement means the commencement of section 27 of the amending Act. former review provision means Part 5 of the Act as in force immediately before commencement. 52 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement Section 36, as inserted by section Error! Reference source not found. of the amending Act, applies only in relation to a reviewable decision that is made after the commencement. 53 Reviews not commenced before commencement (1) This section applies to a person if, immediately before the commencement, the person: (a) was entitled to apply to the Local Court for a review of a decision of the Board under the former review provision; and (b) had not yet made an application in relation to the decision. (2) The person may apply to the Local Court for a review of the decision in accordance with the former review provision, as if section 27 of the amending Act had not commenced. (3) The Local Court must hear and determine the application under subsection (2) in accordance with the former review provision, as if section 27 of the amending Act had not commenced.

Part 9 Transitional matters for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 25 54 Application made but not yet determined (1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an application for a review of a decision that: (a) was made by a person under the former review provision before the commencement; and (b) had not been finally determined in accordance with the former provision before the commencement. (2) The Local Court must hear and determine the application in accordance with the former review provision, as if section 27 of the amending Act had not commenced.

Schedule Reviewable decisions Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 26 Schedule Reviewable decisions section 36 Item Reviewable decision Affected person 1 A decision of the Board under section 22A to refuse to register an applicant as a journeyman The applicant 2 A decision of the Board under section 24 to refuse to grant an applicant a licence of an advanced tradesman The applicant 3 A decision of the Board under section 26 to refuse to renew a registration card or licence The applicant 4 A decision of the Board under section 33 to take action The applicant 5 A decision of the Board under section 35 to refuse to reissue a registration card or licence The applicant

ENDNOTES Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 27 ENDNOTES 1 KEY Key to abbreviations amd = amended od = order app = appendix om = omitted bl = by-law pt = Part ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule cl = clause rem = remainder div = Division renum = renumbered exp = expires/expired rep = repealed f = forms s = section Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation lt = long title sub = substituted nc = not commenced 2 LIST OF LEGISLATION Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (Act No. 11, 1983) Assent date 27 April 1983 Commenced 1 July 1983 (s 2, s 2 Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983 (Act No. 12, 1983) and Gaz S21, 1 July 1983, p 1) Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 1983 (Act No. 70, 1983) Assent date 28 November 1983 Commenced 22 December 1983 (Gaz S41, 22 December 1983, p 2) Criminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 (Act No. 68, 1983) Assent date 28 November 1983 Commenced 1 January 1984 (s 2, s 2 Criminal Code Act 1983 (Act No. 47, 1983), Gaz G46, 18 November 1983, p 11 and Gaz G8, 26 February 1986, p 5) Statute Law Revision Act 1988 (Act No. 66, 1988) Assent date 22 December 1988 Commenced 22 December 1988 Statue Law Revision Act 1989 (Act No. 60, 1989) Assent date 2 October 1989 Commenced 2 October 1989 Public Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 28, 1993) Assent date 30 June 1993 Commenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53, 29 June 1993) Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 49, 2003) Assent date 18 September 2003 Commenced 18 September 2003

ENDNOTES Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 28 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 26, 2009) Assent date 1 September 2009 Commenced 14 October 2009 (Gaz G41, 14 October 2009, p 2) Personal Property Securities (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010 (Act No. 30, 2010) Assent date 9 September 2010 Commenced ss 58 to 60: 30 January 2012 (S 2, 24 January 2012); rem: 25 November 2011 (Gaz,S68, 25 November 2011) Penalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No. 23, 2013) Assent date 12 July 2013 Commenced 28 August 2013 (Gaz G35, 28 August 2013, p 2) Statute Law Revision Act 2014 (Act No. 38, 2014) Assent date 13 November 2014 Commenced 13 November 2014 Training and Skills Development Act 2016 (Act No. 25, 2016) Assent date 29 June 2016 Commenced 4 July 2016 (Gaz S61, 4 July 2016) Statute Law Revision Act 2018 (Act No. 10, 2018) Assent date 23 May 2018 Commenced 20 June 2018 (Gaz S41, 20 June 2018) Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 (Act No. 2, 2026) Assent date 9 February 2026 Commenced 10 February 2026 (s 2) 3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 6, 48 and 50. 4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS pt I hdg (now pt 1) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 2A ins No. 49, 2003, s 3 s 3 amd No. 70, 1983, s 4; No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 49, 2003, s 4; No. 26, 2009, s 4; No. 38, 2014, s 2; No. 25, 2016, s 112; No. 2, 2026, s 28 s 4 amd No. 26, 2009, s 5 pt II hdg (now pt 2) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 6 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 49, 2003, s 5; No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 7 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 10 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 49, 2003, s 6; No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 11 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 13 amd No. 49, 2003, s 7 s 16 amd No. 49, 2003, s 8; No. 26, 2009, s 6 pt III hdg rep No. 49, 2003, s 9

ENDNOTES Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 29 pt 3 hdg ins No. 26, 2009, s 7 s 17 rep No. 49, 2003, s 9 ins No. 26, 2009, s 7 ss 18 – 21 rep No. 49, 2003, s 9 pt IV hdg (now pt 4) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 22 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 22A ins No. 49, 2003, s 10 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 23 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 24 sub No. 49, 2003 s 10 amd No. 26, 2009, s 8 s 26 amd No. 49, 2003, s 11; No. 2, 2026, s 29 s 28 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 29 amd No. 49, 2003, s 12; No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 30 amd No. 49, 2003, s 13; No. 26, 2009, s 9 s 31 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 33 amd No. 49, 2003, s 14; No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 34 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 10, 2018, s 6 s 35 amd No. 49, 2003, s 15 s 35A ins No. 30, 2010, s 43 pt IVA hdg (now pt 5) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 sub No. 2, 2026, s 30 s 36 sub No. 49, 2003 s 16 sub No. 2, 2026, s 30 s 36A ins No. 49, 2003, s 16 rep No. 2, 2026, s 30 s 37 amd No. 66, 1988, s 6 sub No. 49, 2003 s 16 rep No. 2, 2026, s 30 s 37A ins No. 49, 2003, s 16 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 rep No. 2, 2026, s 30 pt V hdg (now pt 6) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 38 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12; No. 10, 2018, s 6 s 39 amd No. 26, 2009, s 10 s 40 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 41 amd No. 49, 2003, s 18; No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 42 sub No. 26, 2009, s 11 amd No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 43 amd No. 26, 2009, s 12; No. 23, 2013, s 12 ss 44 – 46 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 46A ins No. 68, 1983, s 75 pt VI hdg (now pt 7) amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 47 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15 s 48 amd No. 26, 2009, s 13; No. 23, 2013, s 12 s 49 amd No. 26, 2009, s 15; No. 23, 2013, s 12 pt 8 hdg ins No. 26, 2009, s 14 s 50 rep No. 49, 2003, s 17 ins No. 26, 2009, s 14 s 51 ins No. 70, 1983, s 5 rep No. 49, 2003, s 17

ENDNOTES Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 30 s 52 ins No. 70, 1983, s 5 rep No. 49, 2003, s 17 pt 9 hdg ins No. 2, 2026, s 31 ss 51 – 54 ins No. 2, 2026, s 31 sch ins No. 2, 2026, s 31

1 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983

The Act centres on a small set of legal and administrative concepts that determine who may do plumbing and draining work, how they qualify, the Board’s role in maintaining standards, and the enforcement regime. Key concepts (with source references) are:

Licensing classes and roles: The Act defines advanced tradesman and journeyman (s 3). An advanced tradesman may carry out work on their own account and supervise apprentices, journeymen and unskilled workers (s 3, advanced tradesman). A journeyman works under the direction of an advanced tradesman and may supervise apprentices or unqualified workers (s 3, journeyman). These definitions determine which work may be done only by licence holders (s 38).
Plumbing and draining: The Act defines plumbing and draining with a practical scope: plumbing covers fixtures, fittings and pipes for sewage or water, ventilation, and connections of hot or cold water services to land; draining concerns sub‑surface fittings or pipes carrying discharge to sewer, drain or septic tank (s 3 definitions of plumbing and draining). These definitions are the substantive work categories the licensing regime regulates.
Plumbing licence area: The Act applies within areas declared by the Minister as plumbing licence areas (s 17). The spatial scope of the regime is therefore a ministerial decision; outside a declared area the Act does not apply (s 4(1)).
Board powers and functions: The Board’s statutory functions include assessing competence by examination or other means, issuing and cancelling reciprocity certificates, issuing/renewing/suspending/cancelling/reinstating registration cards and licences, maintaining registers, collecting prescribed fees, and cooperating with other authorities (s 16(1)(a)-(f), (g)). The Board can make inquiries, hold hearings, and delegate powers (ss 16(2), 15).
Qualification routes and reciprocity: Applications for journeyman registration or advanced licences must be in approved form, include specified documents and fees, and may be supported by statutory declarations (ss 22(1)-(2), 23(1)-(2)). The Board can grant registration where the applicant has completed Board‑approved academic and practical training, holds an ANZRA reciprocity certificate, or holds an equivalent overseas qualification recognised by ANZRA; there are additional employment and English language conditions for some overseas qualifications (s 22A(2)-(3)). Advanced licences require competency in contract assessment, resource planning and management consistent with the prescribed Acts and completion of an approved advanced practices course (s 24(2)(b)-(c)).
Disciplinary process: Before action under s 30(2) (cancellation or disciplinary outcomes) the Board must issue a show‑cause notice with reasons and hearing details and can require documents (s 31). The hearing procedure allows calling witnesses, but answers cannot be used against the witness in criminal proceedings except for false statements under s 42(1) (s 32). After hearing the Board can cancel, suspend for specified maximum periods, or issue warnings (s 33).
Offences and enforcement tools: The Act criminalises carrying out work as an advanced tradesman without a licence (on own account) and carrying out work when unregistered or without supervision (s 38). It allows authorised officers to enter land and prepare reports if they reasonably suspect an offence and to require production of cards (s 48). It categorises certain breaches as regulatory offences (s 46A), and empowers the Administrator to make regulations prescribing fees and penalties (s 49).
Review and appeal: The Act identifies specific “reviewable decisions” (the Schedule) and provides a review pathway to NTCAT for affected persons (s 36) as amended by the 2026 Act, while also preserving Local Court review rights for certain transitional circumstances under Part 9 (ss 51-54).

These concepts structure the Act’s mechanisms: who decides (Minister, Board, authorised officers), who is regulated (licensed tradespeople, employers, owners in certain work), and how enforcement, qualification and review occur. The Act links competence assessment, registration and discipline with public health and safety objectives stated in s 2A, and designs procedural safeguards (show‑cause, hearings, review routes) around the Board’s discretionary licensing role.

The Act’s regulatory scope reaches several distinct groups, and who bears costs and compliance duties varies by role:

Licensed practitioners: Advanced tradesmen (licence holders) are primary regulated persons. They may contract and manage work, and have statutory duties to properly and adequately manage or supervise work carried out under their licence (s 30(2)(d); s 16(1)(c)(i)-(ii)). They must hold a licence to carry out plumbing or draining on their own account (s 38(1)) and may be disciplined, suspended or cancelled by the Board (ss 30-35). Advanced tradesmen also face obligations to supervise journeymen and apprentices (s 3 definition; s 43 on supervision,penalty 15 penalty units).
Journeymen: Persons registered as journeymen work under direction of advanced tradesmen and require a registration card to perform journeyman‑level work or to be employed in that role (s 3 definition; s 38(2)-(3)(b)). Journeymen face suspension and cancellation regimes similar in form (ss 30-35). They must produce registration cards on request (s 44(2)) and notify address changes (s 46).
Apprentices and unqualified workers: The Act distinguishes apprentices (defined by reference to the Training and Skills Development Act 2016, s 3) and permits work by unqualified persons under supervision by licensed persons, within limits (s 2A(a) and s 38(2)). Advanced tradesmen must exercise sufficient supervision (s 43); failure is an offence.
Employers and principals: Persons who employ tradesmen must ensure those they employ hold the appropriate licence or registration card (s 45,employing an unlicensed advanced tradesman or journeyman attracts a maximum penalty of 15 penalty units). Owners engaging contractors must have recourse to licensed persons to avoid engaging in conduct that would amount to employing unlicensed tradespeople.
Landowners and occupiers: Owners who are occupiers may carry out limited repairs to approved cold water plumbing installations without a licence provided specific conditions are met (s 39(2)). Owners may also carry out work on installations connected to a bore on their land or install certain non‑Territory‑connected irrigation systems (s 39(3)). Landowners are also the parties on whose land authorised officers may enter (s 48(1)), and they may require tradespeople to produce cards if work is being carried out (s 44(2)).
Education and training providers: The Board’s composition includes a representative of educational institutions that provide training for apprentices (s 6(b)), and the Board may remit fees for applicants employed solely in teaching (s 16(2)(e)). The Act therefore affects institutions that deliver trade training and assessment.
Trade associations and apprenticeship authorities: The Minister must give trade associations or the apprenticeship authority opportunities to recommend candidates for certain Board appointments (s 7(3)). The Board may cooperate with ANZRA and other authorities (s 16(2)(c)), so these bodies are operational partners in recognition and reciprocity processes.
Minister, Agency and authorised officers: The Minister decides on Board appointments (s 7), may declare plumbing licence areas (s 17), and can direct the Chairman to call Board meetings (s 12(2)). Authorised officers (as defined by reference to the Building Act 1993, s 3) have powers of entry and information gathering (s 48). The Agency administering the Building Act has a seat on the Board (s 6(a)).
Consumers and the general public: Indirectly affected because the Act’s object is protection of health and welfare (s 2A). Compliance and enforcement aim to influence workmanship and safety of plumbing/draining work that affects public health.

Who pays and who decides: Practitioners and applicants pay prescribed fees (ss 22(1)(c), 23(1)(c), 26(3), s 16(2)(d) gives the Board power to collect fees). The Minister and the Board make key administrative decisions,appointment of members, declaration of licence areas (ss 7, 17), licensing and disciplinary decisions (ss 22A, 24, 30-35). Authorised officers exercise on‑site enforcement powers (s 48).

Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: The primary beneficiaries of licensing are licensed tradespeople who may exclude unlicensed competitors from contracting for certain work (s 38(1)), while the compliance costs (training, fees, renewals, supervision) and potential criminal penalties are diffuse across workers, employers and property owners. Reciprocity arrangements (s 29 and s 22A) concentrate benefits for holders of ANZRA certificates. The Act’s spatial limit by ministerial declaration (s 17) concentrates regulatory burden where the Minister elects to apply the scheme.

This section sets out the concrete statutory duties imposed and the procedural and review rights given by the Act.

Primary duties and obligations:

Hold and produce appropriate credentials: Persons must not carry out, or contract to carry out, plumbing or draining work required to be performed by a licensed advanced tradesman unless they hold a licence (s 38(1), (3)(a)); journeyman‑level tasks require a registration card (s 38(3)(b)). A person carrying out such work must produce their registration card or licence to an owner or occupier on request (s 44(2)). Failure to return cancelled or expired cards within 28 days is an offence (s 44(1)).
Supervision and control: Advanced tradesmen must exercise adequate supervision and control over journeymen, apprentices and other workers employed by or under their control; failure to do so is an offence subject to a penalty of 15 penalty units (s 43).
Employ only licensed persons: Employers must not employ persons as advanced tradesmen unless they hold licences, nor as journeymen unless they hold registration cards (s 45).
Notify address changes: Holders must notify the Board within 21 days of any change of address (s 46).
Comply with Board processes: Applicants must apply in the approved form, provide prescribed documents and fees, and may be required to give statutory declarations in support of applications (ss 22(1)-(2), 23(1)-(2)).
Respond to authorised officers: On request, a person carrying out plumbing or draining work must state whether they hold credentials and produce them (s 48(2)). Authorised officers may enter land to investigate suspected offences (s 48(1)).

Procedural rights and protections:

Notice and hearing before disciplinary action: Before taking action under s 30(2), the Board must give at least 14 days written notice to show cause, specify reasons and the hearing particulars and may require production of specified documents (s 31). The respondent may appear in person or provide a statutory declaration (s 31(4)).
Evidentiary protection at hearings: A person is not excused from answering questions at hearings on the ground that an answer might incriminate them, but answers are not admissible against them in proceedings other than for a false statement against s 42(1) (s 32(2)). The Board determines hearing procedure (s 32(3)).
Outcomes after hearing: If the Board is satisfied grounds exist it may cancel, suspend (up to specified maximum periods,registration cards up to 12 months, licences up to 2 years), or issue warnings (s 33). Decisions must be provided by information notice (s 33(2)).
Reissue and reinstatement: Cancelled registration cards and licences may be the subject of reissue applications after minimum periods of supervised work and provision of proof and references (s 34, s 35). The Board must consider such applications and either reissue or refuse (s 35(1)).
Review rights: Schedule and s 36 set out reviewable decisions and affected persons. An affected person may apply to NTCAT for review of listed decisions (s 36(3)). The Schedule lists decisions such as refusals to register as journeyman (s 22A decisions), refusals to grant advanced licences (s 24 decisions), refusals to renew (s 26), Board disciplinary actions (s 33 decisions) and refusals to reissue (s 35) (Schedule Items 1-5).
Information notices: The Act defines an information notice for Board decisions specifying the decision, reasons, and advising the recipient of their 21‑day right to apply to the Local Court for review (definition of information notice in s 3). Note that the 2026 amending Act changed review jurisdiction (Part 9): s 36 as amended applies to decisions made after the commencement of the amending Act, with transitional protections for persons who had not yet exercised Local Court rights prior to commencement (Part 9, ss 52-54).

Other rights and discretions:

Board discretion on inquiries and fee remission: The Board may make such inquiries as it considers appropriate in deciding applications, may hold hearings and call witnesses, may join appropriate associations and cooperate with other authorities, collect prescribed fees and remit fees where applicants are employed solely in teaching (s 16(2)(a)-(e)).
Delegation: The Board may delegate powers in writing (s 15). Delegation does not prevent the Board exercising the power itself.

These duties interact with enforcement penalties (Part 6). Practical compliance requires adherence to application formats, timely renewal, maintenance and production of registration cards and licences, ensuring supervision obligations are met, and responding promptly to show‑cause notices.

The Act combines regulatory offences with penalties in penalty units and, for some offences, imprisonment. Enforcement mechanisms include authorised officers’ powers of entry, Board disciplinary action, and external review of administrative decisions. The concrete enforcement and penalty regimes are:

Criminal and custodial penalties:

Carrying out work when unlicensed: A person who, for reward or otherwise, carries out or undertakes to carry out on their own account plumbing or draining without an advanced tradesman licence faces for a first offence a maximum of 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months; for second or subsequent offences 40 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months (s 38(1)). Equivalent penalties apply for persons carrying out plumbing or draining work without registration or required supervision (s 38(2)) and for persons contracting to carry out work without the required licence or registration (s 38(3)).
Working while suspended: Carrying out licence‑level or journeyman work while suspended attracts identical penalties as unlicensed work (s 40).
Fraudulent use or possession of credentials: Forging, fraudulently altering or lending licences, registration cards or reciprocity certificates, or possessing such documents to deceive, carries a maximum penalty of 15 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months (s 41).

Regulatory and lower‑level penalties:

False statements to the Board or authorised officer: Making false or misleading statements to the Board or an authorised officer carries a maximum penalty of 4 penalty units (s 42(1)-(2)).
Insufficient supervision or control: Advanced tradesmen who fail to exercise necessary direction or exercise insufficient direction over workers face a maximum of 15 penalty units (s 43).
Failure to return or produce cards: Not returning cancelled or expired cards within 28 days, or failing to produce current cards on request, attracts a maximum penalty of 0.8 penalty units (s 44(1)-(2)).
Employment of unlicensed persons: Employing as an advanced tradesman or journeyman someone who lacks a licence or registration card is a maximum 15 penalty units (s 45).
Change of address notification: Failing to notify the Board of address changes within 21 days is a 0.8 penalty unit offence (s 46).
Regulatory offence classification: The Act explicitly declares that contravening or failing to comply with s 28(4) (returning duplicate), s 44, s 45 or s 46 is a regulatory offence (s 46A). The Criminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 (not printed here) and endnotes show broader statutory context for regulatory offences.

Enforcement powers and procedures:

Authorised officers: Where an authorised officer reasonably believes an offence has been, is being or is about to be committed, the officer may enter land to prepare a report for submission to the Board or take other appropriate action under this Act or the Building Act 1993 (s 48(1)). An authorised officer may require persons carrying out work to state whether they hold credentials and to produce them (s 48(2)). Refusal or false statements in those circumstances attract penalties (s 48(3)).
Board disciplinary action: For conduct falling within s 30(2) grounds, the Board may cancel, suspend or issue warnings after giving notice and a hearing (ss 30-33). The terms and maximum suspension periods are specified (s 33(1)(b)-(c)). Decisions must be followed by an information notice (s 33(2)).
Administrative review: Affected persons may seek review of specific Board decisions to NTCAT (s 36) for decisions made after the 2026 commencement, and transitional provisions preserve earlier Local Court review rights in certain circumstances (Part 9, ss 52-54). The definition of an information notice requires the Board to advise applicants of their 21‑day right to apply to the Local Court (s 3 definition).
Criminal proceedings: The Act’s offences are enforceable through criminal prosecution where applicable, with the range of sanctions including penalties in penalty units and imprisonment in specified offences (see s 38(1)-(3), s 40(1)-(2), s 41).

Limits and procedural safeguards:

Evidence at hearings: A person cannot refuse to answer incriminating questions at a Board hearing, but answers are not admissible against them in proceedings except for s 42(1) offences (s 32(2)). The Board’s procedural discretion is broad subject to natural justice reflected in the show‑cause notice, hearing and review rights (ss 31-33, s 36).
Regulations: The Administrator may make regulations to prescribe fees and provide for remissions and set maximum penalties of up to 4 penalty units for breaches of regulations (s 49).

The enforcement architecture uses criminal penalties for core unauthorised practice and serious fraud, regulatory penalties for administrative breaches, and administrative disciplinary steps for fitness and competence matters. Authorised officers provide on‑site investigatory capacity, while the Board conducts licensing and disciplinary adjudication with statutory rights of review for affected persons.

The Act is explicitly framed to operate alongside and in reference to other Northern Territory and trans‑jurisdictional legislative and regulatory instruments. Key interactions cited in the Act are:

Building Act 1993 and authorised officers: The Act relies on the definition of authorised officer in the Building Act 1993 (s 3 definitions). Authorised officers exercise entry and investigatory powers under s 48 of this Act, and may take action under either or both this Act and the Building Act 1993 where an offence is suspected (s 48(1)(b)). The Board composition includes an employee of the Agency administering the Building Act 1993 (s 6(a)), integrating building administration with plumbing licensing.
Water supply and sewerage legislation: The Act’s commencement ties to the Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983 (s 2) and later the Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000 is included among the “prescribed Acts” (s 3). The Board must ensure works comply with the prescribed Acts (s 24(2)(b)(iii)), and the Act’s object relates to protection of community health in water and sewerage contexts (s 2A). Part 8 contains historical declarations about application during transitions between Water Supply statutes (s 50).
Training and Skills Development Act 2016: The Act references apprentices via the Training and Skills Development Act 2016 (s 3 definition of apprentice). The Board’s membership includes a representative of the Territory authority charged with registration of indentures of apprenticeship and oversight of training of apprentices (s 6(d)). This links licensing to apprenticeship and vocational training frameworks.
ANZRA and inter‑jurisdictional reciprocity: The Act makes provision for reciprocity certificates and recognition of qualifications from other Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand via ANZRA (s 3 definition, ss 22A(2)(b)-(c), 24(2)(a)(iii), 29). The Board may issue reciprocity certificates and is empowered to cooperate with other licensing/examining authorities (s 16(2)(c)).
Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 and review jurisdiction: The Act’s review provisions refer to the NTCAT Act for procedure and other matters (s 36 Note). The 2026 amendment changes review jurisdiction to NTCAT for decisions made after the commencement (Part 9, ss 51-54), while transitional rules preserve Local Court review rights for applications not yet made or pending at the time of commencement.
Criminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 and penalty context: The Act declares certain breaches to be regulatory offences (s 46A). Endnotes reference the Criminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 in the context of classification and enforcement of regulatory offences. The Act also contains provisions on false statements and fraudulent documents, which interact with general criminal statutes.
Personal Property Securities and other general laws: The Endnotes show later Acts (e.g. Personal Property Securities (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010) amended the Act in formal respects (see endnotes). The Act’s protection of Board members from civil and criminal liability for acts done in good faith (s 14(2)) interacts with general tort and administrative law principles.

Operational consequences of these interactions:

Licensing decisions require conformity with building and water/sewerage regulatory standards (s 24(2)(b)(iii)). Applicants must meet training standards that intersect with apprenticeship and vocational frameworks (s 22A(2)(a), s 3 apprentice definition).
Reciprocity and interstate recognition mechanisms mean the Act does not operate in isolation; the Board’s recognition of ANZRA certificates and cooperation with other authorities (s 16(2)(c), s 29) integrates mobility of practitioners but also imposes procedures (s 22A(3) employment and English language checks for overseas qualifications).
Enforcement is cross‑agency: authorised officers under the Building Act can act under this Act (s 48), and the Board can request inspection reports carried out under any of the prescribed Acts (s 16(1)(g)), creating information flows between agencies.
Review jurisdiction adjustments made by the 2026 amending Act change the external remedies available and transition outstanding reviews to the prior Local Court process in certain cases (Part 9, ss 52-54).

These links mean suppliers, practitioners and advisers must consider apprenticeship, building, water/ sewerage, inter‑jurisdictional reciprocity and tribunal/Local Court review frameworks together when assessing compliance and disputes under this Act.

The Act has been amended multiple times since its 1983 enactment. The Endnotes in the text provide a chronology of major amendments and technical changes. Key legislative changes recorded in the Act text and endnotes are:

1983: Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983 (Act No. 11, 1983) received assent 27 April 1983 and commenced 1 July 1983 (s 2 water supply link). A 1983 Amendment Act (Act No. 70, 1983) made early changes (assent 28 November 1983; commenced 22 December 1983) including insertion of some transitional provisions (see endnotes and s 51 and s 52 history).
2003: Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 49, 2003) made substantive amendments, including substitution and insertion of application and decision provisions (ss 22-24 were substantially reworked), amendments to Board functions and powers (s 16), and other structural updates. A new s 22A (deciding journeyman applications) was inserted by the 2003 Act (s 10).
2009: Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 26, 2009) introduced further structural revisions, reclassified parts and made formal amendments across the Act (s 15 indicates part renumberings). It inserted Part 3 heading changes, made procedural amendments (show‑cause notice procedures and hearing provisions), and expanded the Act’s preliminary matters.
2010: Personal Property Securities (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010 made technical amendments referenced in endnotes.
2013: Penalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 updated penalty frameworks related to the Act (endnotes list s 38, s 40, s 41, s 43, ss 44-46 amendments). The update affected penalty units and their application in several offence provisions.
2014 and 2018: Statute Law Revision Acts (2014, 2018) and Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 made formal and corrective modernising amendments to wording and references (endnotes list ss amended).
2016: Training and Skills Development Act 2016 is referenced by the Act for the definition of apprentice (s 3) and was consequentially linked by amendment.
2026: Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026 (Act No. 2, 2026) introduced changes that affect review jurisdiction and transitional provisions. Part 9 of the principal Act (ss 51-54) was inserted in 2026 to address transitional matters relating to the change in review destination from the Local Court to NTCAT and to preserve review rights for persons in particular procedural positions at the time of commencement (ss 52-54). Section 2 of that amending Act commenced on 10 February 2026 (endnotes).

Other notable technical changes:

s 2A (object of Act) was inserted by the 2003 amendment (No. 49, 2003, s 3).
s 22A was inserted by the 2003 Act to set out the decision process for journeyman registration (No. 49, 2003, s 10).
s 35A (licence not transferable) was inserted by the Personal Property Securities Act implementation amendments (No. 30, 2010, s 43).
The schedule of reviewable decisions and the move to NTCAT review reflects the 2026 amendments (Part 9).

The endnotes list each amending Act with assent and commencement dates and map which sections they altered. For practitioners advising on historical compliance or on rights that arose under older versions of the Act, the transitional provisions in Part 9 (ss 52-54) are especially important because they preserve pre‑commencement review routes for persons who were entitled to apply to the Local Court but had not done so before the 2026 commencement.

The Act’s text and endnotes do not name reported judicial decisions. The Schedule and s 36 map the statutory review path for specified Board decisions to a tribunal (NTCAT) or historically to the Local Court. The Act itself therefore creates its own administrative adjudication and review architecture rather than referencing specific cases.

Practical points from the statute relevant to litigation and dispute resolution are:

Reviewable decisions and affected persons are listed in the Schedule (Itemised: refusal to register as journeyman under s 22A, refusal to grant advanced tradesman licence under s 24, refusal to renew under s 26, Board disciplinary actions under s 33, and refusals to reissue under s 35) (Schedule; s 36(1)-(2)). These are the primary administrative decisions that generate external review rights.
Review forum changes: The 2026 amending Act changed the external review forum to NTCAT for decisions made after the 2026 commencement (Part 9, s 52). Transitional provisions allow persons who, immediately before commencement, were yet to apply to the Local Court to proceed under the former review regime (s 53). Applications already made to the Local Court but not finally determined before commencement must be determined under the former Local Court provision (s 54). These transitional rules affect jurisdictional lines and timing for applications.
Procedural protections affecting litigation strategy: The Act requires the Board to issue information notices specifying the decision, reasons and appeal rights (s 3, definition of information notice; s 33(2)). The Board’s show‑cause and hearing procedures (ss 31-32) set the administrative record and evidentiary environment that a subsequent tribunal review or judicial review would consider.
Admissibility and use of evidence: Answers given at Board hearings cannot be used against the witness in other proceedings except for false statements under s 42(1) (s 32(2)). This evidentiary rule may influence disclosure and litigation strategy where Board hearings generate testimony.
Intersection with criminal prosecution: Many offences under the Act carry criminal penalties and possible imprisonment (Part 6). When a Board disciplinary action and a criminal prosecution arise from the same facts, there will be parallel administrative and criminal processes. The Act’s evidentiary protections at hearings (s 32(2)) and the Board’s information requirements (s 31) frame how administrative records might be used in criminal proceedings.
Enforcement by authorised officers: Authorised officers have entry powers and can prepare reports for the Board (s 48). Their reports are likely to form the basis of Board action and any subsequent judicial or tribunal review. Legal challenges may therefore focus on the reasonableness of the authorised officer’s belief and the lawfulness of entry under s 48(1).

Because the text supplied contains no list of appellate or reported decisions, readers should search case databases for NTCAT, Local Court or superior court decisions that have applied the Act where specific legal questions arise, particularly on the Board’s decision‑making discretion, recognition of overseas qualifications under ANZRA pathways, the scope of s 39 owner exceptions, and procedural fairness in show‑cause and hearing processes. The statutory framework supplies the administrative pathways; litigation history will come from decisions applying those pathways in concrete disputes.

The Act contains a number of technical provisions and timing traps that generate practical compliance and advisory risk. This section highlights the concrete items to watch for.

Spatial application depends on ministerial declaration (s 17; s 4(1)). The Act applies only in a plumbing licence area declared by the Minister. Advisers and practitioners must confirm whether the property is within such an area; absence from a declared area means the Act’s licensing requirements do not apply (s 4(1)). This can materially change obligations and enforcement exposure.
Distinction between carrying out work “on his own account” and working in employment (s 38(1)-(2)). A person can legally perform certain tasks as an employee under supervision without a licence, but contracting to do work or carrying out work on their own account requires an advanced tradesman licence. Misclassifying work relationships may expose individuals and employers to significant penalties (s 38).
Narrow owner/occupier exceptions (s 39(2)-(3)). The owner‑repair exception allows replacement or repair of fittings in an “approved cold water plumbing installation” only if the fitting is not substantially changed in function or location; it imposes quality parity (s 39(2)(b)-(c)). Other owner exceptions (e.g. bore‑connected installations and non‑Territory‑connected irrigation systems) are narrow (s 39(3)). Relying on these exceptions without strict factual alignment risks exposure to s 38 penalties.
Overseas qualifications require specified employment periods and English competence in some cases (s 22A(3)). If the applicant’s qualification is from a country where training is in English, the Board requires at least three months’ supervised employment in Australia; otherwise 12 months and evidence of oral and written English ability (s 22A(3)(a)-(b)). Failure to document these periods or language capacity may lead to refusal.
“Not eligible for reciprocity” endorsement and renewal deadlines (ss 25-27). Licences may be endorsed “not eligible for reciprocity” and renewal rules differ: the Board may decline late renewal applications made after expiry unless the licence was endorsed; renewal of such endorsed licences is accepted if applied for within 12 months after expiry (s 27(1)). Missing renewal windows may mean reapplying under the full initial application regime (s 26(2)).
Documentary and form requirements, statutory declarations (ss 22(1)-(2), 23(1)-(2)). The Board may require supporting documents by statutory declaration. An incomplete or unverified application risks refusal; s 22A(4) requires prompt registration and issuance only where criteria met.
Show‑cause and hearing timelines (s 31). The Board must give at least 14 days’ notice before disciplinary action. Respondents must be prepared to produce specified documents and attend hearings or provide statutory declarations. Failure to respond can result in cancellation, suspension or warnings (s 33).
Evidence admissibility at hearings (s 32(2)). Answers at Board hearings cannot be withheld on self‑incrimination grounds and are not admissible against the answering person in criminal proceedings except for false statements under s 42(1). This nuance affects whether to provide oral evidence or rely on written statements.
Non‑transferability of licences (s 35A). Licences cannot be transferred. When structuring corporate transactions, sale of a business that employs or purports to transfer licences is constrained,licences remain personal to licensees.
Penalty ranges and criminal exposure (Part 6). Several important breaches (working unlicensed, fraudulent documents) carry imprisonment options (s 38(1), s 41). Ensure commercial advice considers both regulatory administrative outcomes and potential criminal liabilities.
Board discretion and inconsistent outcomes risk (ss 16(2)(a), 22A(2)(d), 24(2)(b)-(c)). The Board may make discretionary inquiries and assessments of competence. This discretion creates a risk of inconsistent decisions; however decisions listed in the Schedule are reviewable (s 36; Schedule). Practitioners should plan for administrative review where appropriate.
Transitional review changes and timing traps (Part 9). The 2026 amendments redirected review jurisdiction to NTCAT for decisions made after the commencement (s 52). But persons who were entitled to apply to the Local Court before commencement and had not yet made an application retain Local Court rights under s 53. Timing of a challenge therefore affects forum choice.
Production and retention obligations for lost/destroyed reciprocity certificates (s 29(2)). While the Board may issue a written statement acknowledging loss, it “shall not issue a replacement certificate” (s 29(2)). Practitioners depending on physical reciprocity certificates for interstate work should note this limitation.
Fees and remission (s 16(2)(d)-(e); s 49). The Board collects prescribed fees and may remit fees for applicants employed solely in a teaching capacity. Regulations may further define fees and penalties. Not reviewing the regulations and Board policies can lead to unexpected costs or missed remission opportunities.

Address these “gotchas” by checking the declared plumbing licence area, documenting employment and supervision arrangements, maintaining records and certificates, timing renewals carefully, and responding promptly to Board notices and authorised officers. Where Board decisions turn on discretionary assessments, prepare administrative review strategies given the available tribunal and court pathways.

This section gives concrete, practical steps drawn from the Act’s requirements and procedures to reduce enforcement and administrative risk. Compliance actions should be documented and tailored to the type of work, the practitioner’s qualifications and whether the work takes place in a declared plumbing licence area.

Confirm territorial and spatial coverage:
- Verify the land is within a declared plumbing licence area under s 17. The Act applies only where the Minister has declared the area (s 4(1), s 17). If unsure, request the Ministerial Gazette declaration or the Agency administering the Building Act for a list of declared areas.
Determine the correct credential:
- If you intend to contract to carry out plumbing or draining work on your own account, obtain an advanced tradesman licence (s 38(1), definition of advanced tradesman in s 3).
- If you will work under direction for remuneration, ensure you hold a journeyman registration card if the work is of journeyman standard (s 3; s 38(2)-(3)(b)).
- If you intend to employ tradespeople, ensure they hold appropriate credentials before employment (s 45).
Prepare applications correctly:
- Use the Board’s approved form for journeyman registration (s 22(1)(a)) and advanced tradesman licences (s 23(1)(a)). Include all documents specified in the approved form and pay the prescribed fee (ss 22(1)(b)-(c), 23(1)(b)-(c), s 16(2)(d)).
- If the Board requires, provide statutory declarations verifying documents (ss 22(2), 23(2)).
Meet qualification and competency criteria:
- For journeyman registration, demonstrate completion of Board‑approved academic courses and practical training or hold an ANZRA operative reciprocity certificate, or equivalent recognised qualifications (s 22A(2)). For overseas qualifications, ensure you meet the employment and English requirements in s 22A(3).
- For an advanced tradesman licence, have a registration card or equivalent recognised qualifications, and demonstrate competence to assess contract scope, allocate skills/resources and manage work in compliance with the prescribed Acts, and complete any approved advanced practices and management course (s 24(2)(a)-(c)).
Maintain ongoing obligations:
- Renew licences and registration cards in the 3 months before expiry (s 26(1)); submit renewal forms and fees (s 26(3)). If renewal application is made while the credential is still in force, it remains in force until the renewal outcome is notified (s 26(7)).
- For licences endorsed “not eligible for reciprocity”, note the extended 12‑month renewal acceptance window after expiry (s 27(1)); otherwise, late renewal after expiry may require a fresh application (s 26(2)).
- Notify the Board within 21 days of any change of address (s 46).
Supervision and record‑keeping:
- Advanced tradesmen must exercise sufficient direction and control over apprentices and journeymen (s 43). Keep records demonstrating supervision, task allocations, and oversight (site diaries, sign‑offs, inspection records).
- Keep employment records and references needed for reissue applications after cancellation under s 34 (s 34(3)(a)-(d)); retain proof of continuous employment and character references.
Prepare for inspections and enquiries:
- Ensure registration cards and licences are available on site and can be produced to authorised officers upon request (s 48(2); s 44(2)). Failure to produce may attract penalties.
- Cooperate with authorised officers who have reasonable belief of an offence; authorised officers may enter land to prepare reports or take other appropriate actions under this Act or the Building Act 1993 (s 48(1)).
Manage disciplinary risk:
- If the Board issues a show‑cause notice, respond within the 14 days’ period and assemble documentary evidence specified in the notice (s 31). Prepare to attend hearings or lodge statutory declarations setting out the case (s 31(4)). Be aware that answers at hearings can be compelled but are protected from later criminal use except for false statements under s 42(1) (s 32(2)).
Reciprocity and interstate work:
- Holders of ANZRA reciprocity certificates should retain documentary evidence of their certificates. If the certificate is lost, the Board can only issue a written statement acknowledging loss and generally will not issue a replacement certificate (s 29(2)). Plan for interstate work mobility accordingly.
- For overseas qualifications, document periods of supervised employment in Australia and language competence to meet s 22A(3) requirements.
Fees and remissions:
- Check the regulations made under s 49 for prescribed fees and scales. Where applicants are employed solely in a teaching capacity, apply for fee remission under s 16(2)(e) where relevant.
Transactions and corporate structuring:
- Remember licences are not transferable (s 35A). Where a business sale is contemplated, provide for reapplication or replacement licences for the incoming individuals, not an assignment of existing licences.
Dispute resolution strategy:
- If the Board refuses registration, licence, renewal or reissue, consider timely review applications. For decisions made after the 2026 commencement, NTCAT review applies (s 36; Part 9 s 52). For transitional circumstances where a Local Court review right existed before commencement and no application was made, s 53 allows Local Court review under the former provision. Check the Schedule for which decisions are reviewable and who qualifies as an affected person (Schedule; s 36(2)).
Insurance and risk management:
- Ensure appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover identified risks associated with licences and actions that might lead to Board scrutiny or consumer claims arising from workmanship.
Board engagement and representation:
- Trade associations and training institutions have specified roles in recommending Board members and supplying representatives on the Board (ss 6(b), 6(c) and 7(3)). Engage with these bodies where policy or procedural changes are contemplated to ensure practitioner perspectives are represented.

Following these steps,confirm applicability, determine the correct credential, comply with the Board’s application and renewal requirements, maintain supervision records, cooperate with authorised officers, and act promptly on notices,addresses the principal compliance obligations the Act imposes.

Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983

Source text: opening excerpt

1 Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply