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| Bill presented and read a first time. Mr VATSKALIS (Lands and Planning): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. At the Council of Australian Government meeting in April 1995, the heads of government signed three agreements established in the National Competition Policy. They are commonly referred to as the NCP Agreements. Under the NCP Agreements all states and territories were required to develop timetables for reviewing all existing legislation, conduct reviews in accordance with the timetable, and where appropriate, amend or repeal legislation that restricts competition. The Architects Act was identified as requiring NCP review. In response to national debate on this issue the Commonwealth on behalf of all states and territories, except Victoria, requested the Productivity Commission to conduct a national review of architect legislation across Australia. This was for the dual purpose of assisting jurisdictions meet their obligations under the NCP Agreements and to achieve greater consistency in any future regulations of the architecture profession in Australia. The Productivity Commission released its report, Review of Legislation Regulating the Architectural Profession, known as the PC Review Report, on 16 November 2000. The Productivity Commission Review Report recommended a preferred approach and an alternative approach. The preferred approach of the Productivity Commission was that the states and territories' architects acts should be repealed after a two year notification period to allow the profession to develop a national, non-statutory certification and course accreditation scheme. The alternative approach recommended the adjustment of existing legislation to remove elements deemed to be anti-competitive and not in the public interest. All jurisdictions have decided to reject the primary recommendation of the Productivity Commission Review Report. In response to the Productivity Commission's Report, the senior officials group of the Council of Australian Governments agreed to establish an intergovernmental working group. The intergovernmental working group concluded that the commission's secondary recommendation should be supported. A discussion paper on the Northern Territory Architects Act was circulated to building industry in the Territory and interstate in November 2001. A copy of the working group's preliminary report was attached to the discussion paper. Submissions received were supportive of the working group's conclusions with the exception of the Building Designers Association of the Northern Territory. Finally, a position paper was drafted that addressed the issues raised by the intergovernmental working group as it related to the Architects Act of the Northern Territory. The Architects Amendment Bill amends the Architects Act in line with the position paper. The Architects Amendment Bill makes the following amendments to the Architects Act of the Northern Territory: · inserts an objects clause to state the objective of the act; · increases the number of members of the Architects Board from three to five, including two non-architects, to enable consumer and broader industry representation; · amends the restriction on the title 'architect' so that derivatives of the title that describe recognised competency or qualification are permitted; · amends the rule regarding architectural companies and partnerships to simplify the way control of these companies is managed and architectural work supervised; · enables consumers to lodge complaints about architects with an appeal to the Local Court; · amends section 14 to better describe education and training requirements; and · changes the fines currently in the act into penalty units. The amendments to the Architects Act will ensure that it meets national competition policy obligations. Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members. Debate adjourned. |