Issue Date:  -  Wednesday, 23 April 1997

Review of Land Valuers Licensing Act to start next month

The review of the Land Valuers Licensing Act has been brought forward by three years and will start next month, Fair Trading Minister Doug Shave announced today.

"The review has been brought forward because parts of the Act are outdated and are of questionable benefit," Mr Shave said.

"In fact, the Act as it stands currently may not be applicable to today's requirements."

The 20-year-old Act was not due for review until 2000.

"There is no valid reason to wait until then; now is an appropriate time to look at what level of regulation is required," Mr Shave said.

He said the Government wanted to ensure that land valuers continued to provide Western Australians with a high standard of service.

"The Ministry of Fair Trading is now establishing a reference group, which should begin its work on the review process by next month," he said.

The reference group will consist of representatives from the Land Valuers' Licensing Board, industry bodies and their clients, as well as the Consumers' Association of WA.

"I expect the industry's peak body, the Australian Institute of Valuers and Land Economists, to take a leading role in these discussions," Mr Shave said.

"If we change our regulatory arrangements at all, I want to be satisfied that adequate checks are in place to lend protection to the community.

"Any changes must ensure that Western Australians have access to an inexpensive and effective redress process in the event of a dispute about valuers' services."

The review findings will be made available for public comment early next year.

The review is in line with the State Government's commitment to National Competition Policy.

The policy seeks to remove barriers to competition, while at the same time maintaining appropriate safeguards for the community, with limited interference by government

Media contact:
Anabel Gomez
Tel: (08) 9366 0300