Australian Capital Territory
Explanatory Statement
Health Professionals (Fees) Determination 2010 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2010–63
made under the
Health Professionals Act 2004, s 132 (Determination of fees)

The Health Professionals Act 2004 (the Act) is an Act to protect the public from risk of harm by ensuring that the people who provide health services regulated by this Act are competent to provide health services, and for other purposes.  

Section 132 of the Act provides the Health Professional Boards with the power to determine fees for the purpose of the Act.  This instrument sets fees for the ACT Veterinary Surgeons Board.

This instrument sets fees for registration of persons under Section 112 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, for short term registration under section 115A of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, for late payment of annual renewal under section 127 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, for re-registration under section 128 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, for provision of a duplicate certificate under section 122 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, for alteration to the register under section 156 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004, and fee for an extract from the register under section 155 of the Health Professionals Regulation 2004.  
The fees are to meet the agreed costs of operating the Health Professions Boards Secretariat and carrying out the functions of the Board.   
No change has been made to:
the fee for mutual recognition registration (specialist) (Section 112);
the fee for short term registration (Section 115A);
the fee for an extract from the register (Section 155).
Changes to fees are proposed to balance the Board’s budget and to reflect the cost to the Board of conducting its regulatory functions.  The main source of revenue is from fees paid for annual renewal of registration.  The Board has been a member of a group of 10 allied health boards and this has led to economies until now.  Seven of those boards will join the national registration scheme in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT) Act 2010 from 1 July 2010 and the Veterinary Surgeons Board will now have to pay for its overheads independently.  Without an increase in fees the Board would be unable to meet its liabilities.  The only source for the extra revenue is registration fees and they are to be increased as follows:
Provision			Increase 

Section 112 of the Regulation:

Fee for initial registration							$50 (16%)
Fee for initial registration (specialist)						$40 (19%)
Fee for mutual recognition registration					$50 (20%)
Fee for annual renewal of registration					$35 (14%)
Fee for annual renewal of registration (specialist)				$20 (13%)
New fee for non-practising registration					$100

Section 127 of the Regulation:

Fee for late payment of annual renewal for registration			$50 (16%)

Section 128 of the Regulation:

Fee for non-retrospective re-registration					$50 (15%)
Fee for non-retrospective re-registration (specialist)				$50 (21%)
Fee for retrospective re-registration						$50 (13%)
Fee for retrospective re-registration (specialist)				$50 (17%)

Section 122 of the Regulation:

Fee for provision of a duplicate certificate					$20 (66%)

Section 156 of the Regulation:

Fee for alteration of the Register						$10 (50%)
.