Architectural Practice (Continuing Professional Development) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 17 October 2019.)

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (16:58): I rise to indicate that the Labor opposition will be supporting the bill and is happy to assist with its speedy progress through the parliament. We support the bill because we recognise the importance of continuing professional development in the architecture profession—

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Duluk): Member for Light, are you the lead speaker?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Yes, I think I am the only speaker.

The Hon. S.K. Knoll: I spoke on it.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Not for the opposition you haven't.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Duluk): Member for Light, thank you for indicating you are the lead speaker. You have the floor.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: —an industry which has significant influence on our state's built form and environment. I note that under this bill the professional development framework will be dealt with by the Architectural Practice Board of South Australia in accordance with those already established in other states. It makes sense to align regulatory frameworks across Australia's federation wherever it is possible and advisable.

I want to make two points in relation to this bill that connect to other matters also before the parliament. The first point is an obvious one, the irony of which I do not believe the minister would have missed. The bill introduces an ongoing professional framework for registered practising architects in order to guarantee their competence. This is a very good thing. The public should have confidence in professionals providing services, particularly when their work directly impacts on the public realm.

In keeping with this principle, I look forward to the minister's support for the Planning Development and Infrastructure (Transparency) Amendment Bill 2019, introduced by Labor into the parliament in the last sitting week in the other place. The transparency bill, similar to this bill, contains provisions which require the professional accreditation of State Commission Assessment Panel members in order to bolster public confidence in the panel's deliberations and the public's acceptance of the panel's decisions. The principle applied in both bills is the same and I look forward to the government's support for the transparency bill.

The second point I wish to emphasise also concerns public confidence in the building industry. I note that in the minister's second reading explanation he made reference to the national Shergold Weir report into building confidence and the role this bill plays in public confidence in registered architects. I agree that public confidence in the building industry has taken a hit in recent times with revelations that many privately certified buildings contain flammable cladding and other features that do not comply with the Building Code of Australia.

Requiring ongoing professional development of registered practising architects is a worthy initiative, but I also urge the minister to reconsider the extension of private assessment in the planning system, which has been included in the development assessment regulations. The Labor opposition has already moved a disallowance motion against these regulations. I note that public confidence in the building industry will require independent planning authorities to make decisions without pecuniary interests in the outcome. With these few points raised, I indicate the Labor opposition's support for the bill.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (17:01): I thank the shadow minister, the member for Light, for his contribution for the indication of the opposition's support. This is a measure that has been a long time coming, something that was actually consulted on years ago, but we are here now.

I think it is especially important in light of the new Planning Development and Infrastructure Act, which is coming into place progressively over the course of the next 12 months, but also in light of the serious questions that have been asked about everybody along the building supply chain essentially from developers through to planners, architects, building surveyors and fire safety engineers and certifies, whether they be council or whether they be private, around how adherence to building codes are conducted and the fact that what we see now is quite a lot of deficiency, especially in relation to aluminium composite cladding and the issues that are manifesting there.

We now see this call for a better regulated accredited professional scheme—and obviously part of that matter is being progressed here—not only by industry but also by insurance companies, who want a greater level of assurance that there is a high bar for those involved in the design and manufacture of buildings, that they hold themselves in high regard and that they adhere to high standards so that we can have a greater level of confidence in the work they do.

I commend the bill to the house. I thank the opposition for their support in this regard and I look forward to this being one small part in the big puzzle of getting this right so that we can keep people safe in and around dwellings.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (17:03): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.