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