Queensland has come down hard on shonky engineers, introducing new laws to name and shame them online for five years.
The new legislation comes in the wake of counterfeit engineer Gerald Shirtcliffe being convicted of 146 charges in a Queensland court recently in relation to performing engineering in Australia and New Zealand. His work included supervising construction of the CTV building which collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake, killing 115 people.
Under the Professional Engineers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 which was passed in state Parliament last week, a new clause allows for a person other than a registered professional engineer found guilty of an offence whether a conviction is recorded or not to have their full name published for five years on the board’s website.
The information will include details of the offence committed and the person’s full name and business address. This information will only be removed if the conviction has been quashed on appeal.
Under the new Act there will be two types of registration as an engineer in Queensland – a practising professional engineer or a non-practising professional engineer.
It states that an applicant for registration as a non-practising professional engineer is eligible for registration only if the board is satisfied the applicant will not carry out, or be responsible for the carrying out of, professional engineering services within the registration period to which the application for registration relates. This also relates to engineers renewing registration and restoration of registration.
The legislation also replaces the term of “registered professional engineer” with “practising professional engineer”. The Bill also clarified types of practising engineers.
The term “non-practising professional engineer” is a registered professional engineer who does not carry out, and is not responsible for the carrying out of, professional engineering services. And a “practising professional engineer” is someone who is a registered professional engineer who carries out, or is responsible for the carrying out of, professional engineering services.
The Professional Engineers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 amended the Professional Engineers Act 2002, the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991, and the Building Act 1975.
Photo: CC Flickr greenfluoro bit.ly/1qiocrr.
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