AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ARCHITECTS ORDINANCE 1959

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 3 of 1959

	This Ordinance is designed to ensure as far as possible that persons employing architects in the A.C.T. receive a reasonable standard of service.  Existing legislation does not ensure the same standard.

	The Ordinance sets up an Architects Registration Board and provides that a person may not practise as an architect in the Territory unless registered with the Board.

	A person who is fit and proper to be registered as an architect and who possesses the qualifications specified in section 16 (1) may obtain registration.  If the Board refuses to register a person, the person may appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Board.

	The Board has power to suspend or cancel a person’s registration in the circumstances set out in section 22.  Before exercising its power to suspend or cancel a person’s registration, the Court must conduct an inquiry in accordance with the requirements of section 23.

	In preparing the Ordinance, consideration was given to the provisions of the legislation in other States as well as to the particular requirements of the A.C.T.  Professional bodies concerned with the legislation were also consulted.