In article ,
BigWallop wrote:
But the Australians aren't stupid and have also set limits
on hourly rates and mark up profits on supplying materials.
Or in other words, they are all the same at doing the job,
but if one is more expensive than another, they don't stay
in business very long because they don't get any work to do.

My underlying question was whether the need to be qualified had
generated a shortage thus leading to a rise in prices. In
London because there's more than enough work you can pay £45
(A$120) per hour for a decent plumber or electrician, whether
formally qualified or not. For the most part they are not
really competing on price: how soon they can do it tends to be
more significant.

--
Tony Bryer