SURVEY (FUNDING AND PROMOTION OF SURVEYING QUALIFICATIONS) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:58): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Survey Act 1992. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:59): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

The Survey Act 1992 provides for the licensing and registration of surveyors and makes provisions relating to the surveying of land boundaries. Surveyors play a critical role in the economic development of the State's land development and subdivision processes. Only licensed surveyors can carry out surveys of property boundaries.

I am advised that there are approximately 100 licensed surveyors actively lodging surveys in the Lands Titles Office and a number of others holding administrative roles in government and the private sector. Surveying is an aging profession and there is a shortage of surveyors both nationally and locally and little opportunity to attract surveyors from other parts of Australia or overseas.

In 2005 the University of South Australia ceased offering the undergraduate course necessary for a person to become a licensed or registered surveyor. As a consequence surveying qualifications are no longer offered in South Australia.

The Government is concerned that the closure of the surveying program will have a significant and ongoing impact on the ability to supply the number of surveyors required to support development in the State and has been working with the Institution of Surveyors to explore opportunities to re-establish appropriate courses in South Australia.

The Institution of Surveyors has responsibilities under the Survey Act 1992 to license and register surveyors and to provide a general oversight over the professional practice of surveyors. Funding to enable it to undertake these responsibilities is provided by way of a levy on plans certified by licensed surveyors and lodged in the Lands Titles Registration Office.

This Bill enables the Institution to utilise money gathered from the plan levy to contribute to the cost of running these courses in surveying and promoting surveying as a career.

Negotiations are currently taking place between the Institution and the University of South Australia to develop an appropriate program of study.

The proposal has the full support of the Institution of Surveyors and has been endorsed by the Survey Advisory Committee. The Housing Industry Association has advised that it believes it essential that surveying courses continue to be provided in South Australia and support this approach.

I commend this Bill to the House.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Survey Act 1992

3—Amendment of section 10—Functions of Institution of Surveyors under this Act

The following function is assigned to the Institution of Surveyors: providing financial and other assistance for the conduct by a university of, or participation of a student in, a course of instruction and training that provides qualifications for licensing or registration as a surveyor, and otherwise promoting surveying as a career, as agreed with the Minister.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Redmond.