General > General Technical Chat
Professional Engineer - mandatory registration law
VK3DRB:
Hi.
Our state government has demanded engineers working as professional engineers are registered, else pay hefty fines. There is new legislation in Victoria that requires professional engineers to be registered. It is primarily aimed at the building industry. But they do mention those who develop RF devices and medical devices which affects me. I am qualified to be registered and see some merit in it, but the fees are a bloody rip-off.
The bureaucrats do not mention electronics engineers, only electrical engineers. This creates ambiguity, and might be used by some as a “get out of jail free” card for electronics engineers. https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/licensing-and-registration/professional-engineers
Is this a case of Big Brother Watching You, a good law, or just a money making racket by the state government?
jpanhalt:
--- Quote from: VK3DRB on August 15, 2023, 09:06:20 am ---Is this a case of Big Brother Watching You, a good law, or just a money making racket by the state government?
--- End quote ---
I am a foreigner and don't know Australia, but what you describe is not unique. Registration of professionals to "ensure quality" seems to exist everywhere. It starts that way, eventually has little to do with quality, and ends up with excessive fees. For example in some states, registration/license fees for physicians included an assessment for Medicaid (state version of Medicare for needy) tax shortfalls. Predictably, fees increase faster than expenses and/or expenses are bloated by political appointees.
In the US, such registration fees are almost all at the state level. They are also used to restrict practice by individuals who live and work mainly out of state.
There's nothing you can do about it.
mikeselectricstuff:
The thing about engineers is they are good at problem solving.
People potentially negatively affected will find a workaround, e.g. calling themselves a consultant instead of an engineer.
aeberbach:
I'm Victorian, will be subject to this. I'm for it. Even basic labor needs a day of formal training and a "white card" certification to be on a building site.
Brumby:
--- Quote from: VK3DRB on August 15, 2023, 09:06:20 am ---The bureaucrats do not mention electronics engineers, only electrical engineers. This creates ambiguity, and might be used by some as a “get out of jail free” card for electronics engineers.
--- End quote ---
I suspect they will simply specify "electronics" as a subset of "electrical" . . . and there will be no such escape.
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