Introduction
Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) legislation has recently been passed by the Commonwealth Government. AMR has been described as the ‘driver’s licence model’ as it allows an occupational licence issued in one jurisdiction to be recognised automatically by another jurisdiction – without the licence holder having to obtain a local licence or pay an additional licence fee.
In August 2020, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments introduced a uniform scheme for the automatic recognition of occupational registrations. Following passage of the Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2020 (Cth), participating jurisdictions are now required to put in place supporting legislation, administrative arrangements and determine their occupational exemptions.
Participating jurisdictions are ACT, NSW, NT, SA, Tasmania and WA. Queensland is not a participating jurisdiction.
AMR officially took effect in Victoria on 1 January 2022. It is anticipated that AMR will likely take effect in the remaining participating jurisdictions during 2022.
Current Reciprocal Arrangements
The Council of Reciprocating Surveyors Boards of Australia and New Zealand (CRSBANZ) is the body coordinating reciprocal arrangements between jurisdictions within Australia and New Zealand. The objective of CRSBANZ is to ensure sufficient and common standards for cadastral surveying practice and registration/licensing to enable mutual recognition between the jurisdictions under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth).
There is a reciprocal registration agreement between the various registration authorities across Australia and New Zealand for cadastral surveyors. Under this agreement (consistent with the Mutual Recognition Act 1992) land surveyors registered in an Australian State or Territory or New Zealand, are able to gain equivalent registration across those jurisdictions.
For mine surveyors, the Surveyors Board of Queensland (SBQ) has a MOU with the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information (BOSSI) of New South Wales and the Western Australian Mines Survey Board setting out reciprocal registration rights for mine surveyors between Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Consequences of Queensland not participating in the AMR scheme
Queensland registered surveyors will not be able to automatically perform the same activities in another jurisdiction. Queensland registered surveyors who wish to perform the same activities in another jurisdiction will need to contact the relevant registration authority and obtain advice as to how to formally apply for registration under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth).
Registered surveyors from other jurisdictions will not be able to automatically perform the same activities in Queensland. Registered surveyors from other jurisdictions will need to apply to the Board for registration as per the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) – please refer to the Board’s web page titled ‘Reciprocal Registration’ (please also refer to the below link).