WA Fines or Jail for Blocking Architects Board Investigators and New Investigation Powers

Architects Amendment Bill 2025

29 May 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

architects government accountability professional fees professional licensing professional registration registration fees regulatory investigations

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Architects Registration Board and its appointed investigators can now use special powers to carry out investigations, and only appointed investigators can enter premises.
Criminal offence for obstructing an authorised person exercising their powers, which can result in fines or jail.
Authorised persons must identify themselves when using their powers.
The Board can set the amount of fees under section 72A.
The Board must register any natural person who meets the registration requirements.
The Board must renew registrations or corporate licences if the applicant pays the renewal fee and any other required fees.
The Board must remove a person or corporation from the register if they fail to apply for renewal and pay fees by the deadline.
Investigators must state the name of the person they are dealing with when using their investigation powers.
Registered architects and licensed corporations can apply to renew their registration or licence up until the next 30 June, or a later date set by regulations.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

David Michael ALP

“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. The bill before us was introduced into the previous Parliament at the end of 2024, but because of the prorogation of that Parliament before the recent state election, the bill needs to be reintroduced into the current Parliament.”

Official source →

Dan Caddy ALP

“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. The bill before us was introduced into the previous Parliament at the end of 2024, but because of the prorogation of that Parliament before the recent state election, the bill needs to be reintroduced into the current Parliament.”

Official source →