MPAQ Advocacy Priorities: Strengthening Queensland’s Plumbing and Gas Industry
The Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) is proud to release its 2026 Plumbing and Gas Advocacy Priorities, setting a clear direction for strengthening the industry and supporting members across the state.
What MPAQ Is Advocating for on Your Behalf in 2026
MPAQ has finalised its 2026 Plumbing and Gas Advocacy Priorities, and at the centre of it all is one clear focus: supporting you and your business to operate, grow, and succeed in an increasingly challenging environment.
We know many of you are dealing with workforce shortages, rising costs, regulatory complexity, and ongoing pressure on projects and cash flow. These priorities are shaped directly by what we are hearing from members across Queensland.
What This Means for You
Our advocacy is focused on four key areas that are having the biggest impact on your day-to-day operations:
1. Workforce – Getting More People into the Industry
Finding and keeping good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges for members.
MPAQ is pushing for:
- Better support and incentives for employers taking on apprentices
- More accessible training and mentoring programs
- Improved pathways for skilled migration
- Policy settings that reduce cost pressures on your business
The goal is simple: to make it easier for you to build and maintain a strong team.
2. Productivity – Reducing Delays and Red Tape
We are hearing consistently about delays, inefficiencies, and administrative burden impacting your work.
MPAQ is advocating for:
- Less red tape and more practical regulation
- Better access to government work for small and medium businesses
- Faster and fairer dispute resolution processes
- Improved collaboration on job sites
This is about helping you get on with the job, without unnecessary barriers slowing you down.
3. Industry Reform – Making the System Work Better
Licensing, qualifications, and regulatory processes should support your business, not hold it back.
MPAQ is working to:
- Simplify and modernise licensing pathways
- Provide clear and consistent guidance from regulators
- Remove outdated or unnecessary requirements
- Improve digital systems to make compliance easier
This means less confusion, less time spent navigating the system, and more time focusing on your business.
4. Security of Payment – Getting Paid on Time
Cash flow remains a real concern, particularly for subcontractors and small businesses.
MPAQ is advocating for:
- Stronger protections to ensure you get paid
- Fair and timely payment processes
- Reduced risk when working on projects
- Policy changes that support business stability
At the end of the day, if you have done the work, you should be paid for it.
Why This Matters Now
With increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, and major projects like Brisbane 2032, the pressure on the industry is only going to grow.
Without the right support, this creates real challenges for your business, from staffing and costs to compliance and delivery timelines.
That is why MPAQ is focused on ensuring government policy reflects the realities of running a plumbing business in Queensland.
Our Commitment to You
MPAQ will continue to:
- Represent your interests at all levels of government
- Provide practical, solutions-focused advocacy
- Engage directly with members to understand what matters most
- Push for outcomes that support your business and the broader industry
- Strong advocacy is about making sure your voice is heard and turning that into real outcomes.
Have Your Say
Your feedback continues to shape our advocacy work. If there are issues impacting your business, we want to hear from you. Together, we can continue to strengthen the plumbing and gas industry across Queensland.
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