Professional engineers registration bill passes legislative assembly

The Victorian Parliament will consider the Professional Engineers Registration bill in the upper house at the end of May.

Engineers Australia’s General Manager Victoria, Alesha Printz, was pleased the bill passed legislative assembly and said compulsory registration of engineers in Victoria will be good for the community.

She said it will result in higher levels of community safety and consumer protection.

“While Victorians in many other professions, including doctors, architects and lawyers have to register to be able to legally carry out work, there is nothing to stop a person from calling themselves an engineer, even if they are not an engineer,” said Ms Printz.

She said currently consumers have no way of knowing if they are dealing with a qualified and competent engineer.

The registration will also allow consumers to know if they maintain standards through ongoing professional development and if they are bound by a code of conduct.

“Compulsory registration would be a significant step forward for the industry and we urge as many as possible members to support the legislation in the upper house,” Ms Printz said.

“Public polling has shown that the Victorian community is strongly supportive, with 93 per cent of respondents in a recent poll saying they thought engineers should be registered or licensed.”

The Professional Engineers Registration bill 2019 is likely to be debated in the upper house at the end of May.

Engineers Australia will continue their support for the bill.