Review of Legislation Regulating Architects

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced that he has asked the Productivity Commission (PC) to undertake a review of legislation and regulation governing the architectural profession and report within nine months.

The inquiry will serve as a national review of participating States and Territories legislation, as part of their commitments made under the Competition Principles Agreement signed by all Australian Governments in 1995.

The Agreement encourages the holding of a national review where an issue has a national dimension.

Whilst the Commonwealth has no legislation regulating architects, it has made the PC available to conduct an inquiry following representations from various peak bodies requesting a national review.

All States and Territories, except Victoria, have agreed to having their relevant legislation included in the reference.

Victoria has already reviewed its legislation, but has indicated it is happy to cooperate with the review and share information where appropriate.

Being a legislation review under the Competition Principles Agreement, Senator Kemp has asked the PC to apply the guiding principle that legislation that restricts competition should be retained only if the benefits to the community as a whole outweigh the costs and if the objectives of the legislation cannot be achieved more efficiently through other means, including non-legislative approaches.

"Whilst, ultimately, it will be for each jurisdiction to decide how to respond to the PCs report, this inquiry presents a valuable opportunity to work toward the most appropriate regulation of the profession," Senator Kemp said.

The PC will shortly release an issues paper and invite expressions of interest from anyone wanting to participate in the review, and I encourage all interested parties to make submissions to the Commission and attend its public hearings.

MELBOURNE
5 November 1999