Queensland
Professional Engineers Act
2002
Current as at 1 July 2024
Queensland
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Contents
Page
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 1 Introduction
1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Division 2 Objects
3 Main objects of Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4 How main objects are achieved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Division 3 Application of Act
5 Act binds all persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6 Mutual recognition legislation not affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6A Extraterritorial application of Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Division 4 Interpretation
7 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7A Areas of engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Division 1 Preliminary
7B Types of registration as a professional engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8 Applying for registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Division 2 Eligibility for registration
9 Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10 When applicant is qualified for registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
11 Fitness to practise as a registered professional engineer . . . . . . 16
Division 3 Decision on applications for registration
12 Deciding application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
13 Grant of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14 Refusal of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
15 Period of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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Division 4 Renewal and restoration of registrations
Subdivision 1 Preliminary
16 Meaning of continuing registration requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
17 Notification of expiry of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Subdivision 2 Renewal
18 Applying for renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
19 Registration in force while application is considered . . . . . . . . . . 21
20 Deciding application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
21 Renewal of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
22 Refusal to renew registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Subdivision 3 Restoration
23 Applying for restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
24 Deciding application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
25 Restoration of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
26 Refusal to restore registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Division 5 Lapsing of applications
27 Lapsing of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Division 5A Further conditions imposed on registration
27A Imposition of certain conditions on registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Division 6 Cancellation and immediate suspension of registrations
28 Grounds for cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
29 Procedure for cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
29A Immediate suspension of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Division 7 Offences
30 False or misleading statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
31 False or misleading document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
31A When statement made or document given in relation to application 31
32 Notification about particular matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
32AA Notification of prescribed changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
32A Notification of disciplinary event by other bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
32B Notification of inability to practise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
32C Amending or replacing certificates of registration after certain conditions
imposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Division 8 Miscellaneous
33 Surrender of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
34 Form of certificate of registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
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35 Refund of fees—withdrawal of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
35A Inquiries about fitness to practise as a registered professional engineer
35
35B Report about relevant person’s criminal history . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
35C Information about relevant persons from assessment entities . . 36
Part 2A Health assessments
35D Definitions for pt 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
35E Health assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
35F Appointment of health assessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
35G Health assessment report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
35H Payment for health assessment and report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
35I Use of health assessment report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Part 2B Audits of registered professional engineers
35J Approved audit programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
35K Power to require production of documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Part 3 Complaints and investigations
Division 1AA Extended application of part 3
36AA Application to former registered professional engineers . . . . . . . 41
Division 1 Grounds for disciplining registered professional engineers
36 Grounds for disciplining a registered professional engineer . . . . 41
Division 2 Complaints
37 Complaints about conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
38 Board may require further information or statutory declaration . . 42
39 Rejection of complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
40 Withdrawal of complaint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Division 3 Investigations
41 Investigation of registered professional engineer’s conduct . . . . 43
42 Investigation of compliance with Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
43 Investigation to be conducted as quickly as possible . . . . . . . . . 44
44 Notice of investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
45 Board may engage persons to help investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Division 4 Investigators
46 Function of investigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
47 Powers of investigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Division 5 Appointment of investigators and other matters
48 Appointment and qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
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49 Appointment conditions and limit on powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
50 Issue of identity card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
51 Production or display of identity card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
52 When investigator ceases to hold office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
53 Resignation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
54 Failure to return identity card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Division 6 Powers of board and investigators
55 Power to require information or attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
56 Offence to contravene information or attendance requirement . . 49
57 Inspection and copying of produced documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Division 7 Seizure of documents
58 Seizing document as evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
59 Receipt for seized document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
60 Investigator to give seized document to board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
61 Access to seized document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
62 Return of seized document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Division 7A Entry of places by investigators
Subdivision 1 Power to enter
62A General power to enter places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Subdivision 2 Entry by consent
62B Application of subdivision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
62C Incidental entry to ask for access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
62D Matters investigator must tell occupier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
62E Consent acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Subdivision 3 Entry under warrant
62F Application for warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
62G Issue of warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
62H Defect in relation to a warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
62I Entry procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Division 7B General powers of investigators after entering places
62J Application of division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
62K General powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
62L Power to require reasonable help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
62M Offence to contravene help requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Division 7C Power to seize evidence
62N Seizing evidence at a public place that may be entered without consent
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or warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
62O Seizing evidence at a place that may only be entered with consent or
warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
62P Power to secure seized thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
62Q Offence to contravene seizure requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
62R Offence to interfere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
62S Receipt and information notice for seized thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
62T Access to seized thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
62U Return of seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
62V Forfeiture of seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
62W Information notice about forfeiture decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
62X When thing becomes property of the board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
62Y How property may be dealt with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Division 8 Notice of damage and compensation
63 Notice of damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
64 Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Division 9 Offences about investigations
65 False or misleading statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
66 False or misleading documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
67 Obstructing board or investigators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
68 Impersonation of investigators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Part 4 Reports and board’s decisions about investigations
69AA Application of pt 4 to certain former registered professional engineers
67
69 Board’s report about investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
70 Report about investigation being conducted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
71 Investigator’s report about investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
72 Board may report to Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
73 Board’s decision on investigation about registered professional engineer
68
74 Notice of result of investigation about registered professional engineer
69
74A Publishing of certain decisions on investigation about registered
professional engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
75 Board’s decision about other investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
75A Other investigations—recording decision if person becomes registered
professional engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
75B Publishing information if person other than registered professional
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engineer found guilty of offence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
76 Board to take action as soon as practicable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Part 5 Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland
Division 1 Establishment
77 Establishment of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
78 Board’s relationship with the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
79 Board’s independence etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Division 2 Functions and powers
80 Functions of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
81 Powers of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Division 3 Membership
82 Membership of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
83 Chairperson and deputy chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
84 Duration of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
85 Conditions of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
86 Termination of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
87 Vacation of office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
88 Leave of absence for a member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
89 Effect of vacancy in membership of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
90 Criminal history reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Division 4 Business and meetings
91 Conduct of business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
92 Times and places of meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
93 Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
94 Presiding at meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
95 Conduct of meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
96 Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Division 5 Disclosure of interests by board members
97 Disclosure of interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Division 6 Directions by Minister and performance agreements
98 Ministerial direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
99 Performance agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Division 7 Registrar of board and other staff
100 Appointment and function of registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
100A Other staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
101 Board to reimburse cost of registrar’s or other staff’s services . . 84
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101A Delegation by registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Division 8 Register
102 Keeping register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
103 Inspection of register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Division 9 Other provisions about the board
104 Application of other Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
106 Board to reimburse tribunal costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
107 Matters to be included in annual report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
107A Delegation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Part 6 Codes of practice
108 Board to make code of practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
109 Tabling of code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
110 Inspection of code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
111 Notice of approval or amendment of code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
112 Use of code of practice in disciplinary proceeding . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Part 6A Assessment entities and schemes
Division 1 Preliminary
112A Definitions for pt 6A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Division 2 Suitability of assessment schemes
112B Suitability of assessment schemes for approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Division 3 Applications relating to assessment schemes
112C Application for approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
112D Application for renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
112E Application for variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Division 4 Referral of applications under this part to the board
112F Minister to refer an application under this part to the board for
assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
112G Consideration by board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
112H Further information or document to support application . . . . . . . 95
112I Report by board about application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Division 5 Decision of Minister
112J Decision on application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
112K Grant of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
112L Grant of application with conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
112M Refusal of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Division 6 Term of approval
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112N Term of approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
112O Approval continues pending decision about renewal . . . . . . . . . 98
Division 7 Cancellation, suspension and surrender of approval
112P Grounds for cancellation and suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
112Q Show cause notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
112R Consideration of representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
112S Ending show cause process without further action . . . . . . . . . . . 100
112T Cancellation or suspension of approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
112U Voluntary surrender of approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Division 8 Record of assessment entities
112V Record of assessment entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Part 7 Other offence provisions
113 Claims about being a registered professional engineer . . . . . . . 102
114 Using titles or names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
115 Who may carry out professional engineering services . . . . . . . . 103
Part 8 Reviews and disciplinary proceedings
Division 1 Reviews
122 Review of particular decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
126 Information about review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Division 2 Disciplinary proceedings
127 Tribunal may conduct disciplinary proceeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
129 Tribunal to have regard to code of practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
130 Continuation of particular proceeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
131 Orders relating to registered professional engineer . . . . . . . . . . 106
132 Orders relating to former registered professional engineer . . . . . 108
133 Effect of particular orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
134 Recording details of orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Part 9 Legal proceedings
Division 1 Evidence
135 Application of div 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
136 Appointments and authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
137 Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
138 Evidentiary matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Division 2 Offence proceedings
139 Proceedings for offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
140 False or misleading information or statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
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140A Costs of investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Part 10 Other matters
141 Performance and carrying out of professional engineering services by
particular entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
142 Protection from liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
142A Appropriation of penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
142B Statutory declarations to verify information required under the Act 113
143 Approval of forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
144 Regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Part 11 Repeal, transitional and validating provisions
Division 1 Repeal
145 Repeal of Professional Engineers Act 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Division 2 Transitional provisions for Act No. 54 of 2002
Subdivision 1 Preliminary
146 Definitions for div 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Subdivision 2 Transitional references
147 References to repealed Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
148 References to former board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Subdivision 3 Other transitional provisions
149 Dissolution of former board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
150 Particular members of former board continue in office . . . . . . . . 116
151 First appointment of particular member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
152 Employees of former board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
153 Vesting of former board’s assets, rights and liabilities . . . . . . . . 117
154 Vesting of former board’s pending legal proceedings . . . . . . . . . 117
155 Dissolution of disciplinary panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
156 Complaints under repealed Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
157 Disciplinary proceeding started before commencement . . . . . . . 118
158 Continuing investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
159 Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
160 Existing registrations—individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
161 Existing registrations—divisions of engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
162 Existing registrations—other entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
163 Existing applications for registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
164 Continuing effect of qualifications under repealed Act . . . . . . . . 122
165 Refund of fees—registered professional engineering company or unit
Contents
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Page 10
122
Division 3 Validating provision
166 Validating registration of professional engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Division 4 Transitional provision for Professional Engineers and Other
Legislation Amendment Act 2008, part 2
167 Certain decisions made under part 6A to have effect from 1 July 2008
124
Division 5 Transitional provisions for Professional Engineers and Other
Legislation Amendment Act 2008, part 3
168 Definitions for this division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
169 Certain applications to be dealt with under pre-amended Act . . . 125
170 Continuing registration requirements for preserved areas of engineering
125
171 Application of preserved areas of engineering to certain provisions 125
Schedule 2 Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
[s 1]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 1 Preliminary
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 11
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
Professional Engineers Act 2002
An Act to provide for the registration of professional engineers,
and for other purposes
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 1 Introduction
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Professional Engineers Act 2002.
2 Commencement
(1) The following provisions of this Act commence on assent—
(a) part 1, division 4;
(b) part 11, division 2, subdivision 1;
(c) section 150;
(d) schedule 2.
(2) The remaining provisions of this Act commence on 1 January
2003.
Division 2 Objects
3 Main objects of Act
The main objects of this Act are—
[s 4]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 1 Preliminary
Page 12 Current as at 1 July 2024
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
(a) to protect the public by ensuring professional
engineering services are provided by a registered
professional engineer in a professional and competent
way; and
(b) to maintain public confidence in the standard of services
provided by registered professional engineers; and
(c) to uphold the standards of practice of registered
professional engineers.
4 How main objects are achieved
The main objects are to be achieved primarily by—
(a) providing for the registration of individuals as registered
professional engineers under this Act; and
(b) providing for the monitoring and enforcement of
compliance with this Act; and
(c) imposing obligations on persons about the practice of
engineering; and
(d) establishing the Board of Professional Engineers of
Queensland.
Division 3 Application of Act
5 Act binds all persons
(1) This Act binds all persons, including the State.
(2) Subsection (1) does not make the State liable to be prosecuted
for an offence.
6 Mutual recognition legislation not affected
This Act does not affect the operation of the Mutual
Recognition (Queensland) Act 1992 or the Trans-Tasman
Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003.
[s 6A]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 13
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
6A Extraterritorial application of Act
(1) This Act applies both within and outside Queensland.
(2) This Act applies outside Queensland to the full extent of the
extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.
Division 4 Interpretation
7 Definitions
The dictionary in schedule 2 defines particular words used in
this Act.
7A Areas of engineering
(1) The areas of engineering for this Act are the areas of
engineering for which—
(a) there is an assessment scheme; or
(b) qualifications and competencies are prescribed under
section 10(1)(b).
(2) The board must publish the areas of engineering on its
website.
Part 2 Registration of professional
engineers
Division 1 Preliminary
7B Types of registration as a professional engineer
The types of registration as a professional engineer under this
Act are registration as a practising professional engineer or a
non-practising professional engineer.
[s 8]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Page 14 Current as at 1 July 2024
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8 Applying for registration
(1) Only an individual may apply to the board for registration as a
registered professional engineer for an area of engineering.
(2) The application must be—
(a) in the approved form and state the type of registration to
which the application relates; and
(b) accompanied by each of the following—
(i) satisfactory evidence of the applicant’s eligibility
for registration;
(ii) if there is an assessment scheme approved for the
area of engineering the applicant is applying to be
registered in—the assessment entity’s assessment
of the applicant against the qualifications and
competencies provided for under the scheme;
(iii) any other documents, identified in the approved
form, the board reasonably requires to decide the
application;
(iv) the application fee and registration fee prescribed
under a regulation.
(3) The approved form must provide for the inclusion of the
applicant’s contact details as a registered professional
engineer.
(4) The applicant also must provide any other relevant
information reasonably required by the board to decide the
application.
Note—
For how the board may make a requirement for information under
section 8(4), 18(6) or 23(5), see section 27.
[s 9]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 15
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
Division 2 Eligibility for registration
9 Eligibility
(1) An applicant for registration is eligible for registration only
if—
(a) the applicant is qualified, under section 10, for
registration; and
(b) the board considers the applicant is fit to practise as a
registered professional engineer.
(2) Also, an applicant for registration as a non-practising
professional engineer is eligible for registration only if the
board is satisfied the applicant will not carry out, or be
responsible for the carrying out of, professional engineering
services within the registration period to which the application
for registration relates.
10 When applicant is qualified for registration
(1) An applicant for registration is qualified for registration in an
area of engineering if the applicant has the qualifications and
competencies—
(a) if there is an assessment scheme for the area of
engineering—provided for under the assessment
scheme; or
(b) otherwise—prescribed under a regulation for the area of
engineering.
(2) The competencies mentioned in subsection (1)—
(a) may relate to the practice of engineering in the area of
engineering; and
(b) may include requirements about the following for the
area of engineering—
(i) the nature, extent and period of practice of
engineering by the applicant;
[s 11]
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(ii) the nature and extent of any research, study or
teaching, relating to engineering, undertaken by
the applicant;
(iii) the nature and extent of any administrative work,
relating to engineering, performed by the
applicant.
11 Fitness to practise as a registered professional engineer
In deciding whether an applicant for registration is fit to
practise as a registered professional engineer, the board may
have regard to each of the following—
(a) whether the applicant has a conviction, other than a
spent conviction, for—
(i) an indictable offence; or
(ii) an offence against this Act or the repealed Act; or
(iii) another offence, relating to the practice of
engineering, against a law applying, or that
applied, in the State, the Commonwealth, another
State or a foreign country;
(b) if the applicant has been registered under this Act or the
repealed Act, or registered to practise as a professional
engineer under a law applying, or that applied, in the
Commonwealth, another State or a foreign country and
the registration was suspended or cancelled—the reason
for its suspension or cancellation;
(c) if the applicant has been a member of an association of
professional engineers, whether in Australia or a foreign
country, and the membership was suspended or
cancelled—the reason for its suspension or cancellation;
(d) an order about the applicant made under section 131 or
132 of this Act or section 60 of the repealed Act;
(e) a proceeding taken against the applicant for a matter
mentioned in section 36 under a law applying, or that
[s 12]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 17
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
applied, in the Commonwealth, another State or a
foreign country;
(f) whether the applicant—
(i) is affected by bankruptcy action; or
(ii) is an executive officer of a corporation affected by
control action after the commencement of this
section;
(g) if the applicant was required to undergo a health
assessment—
(i) whether the applicant complied with the
requirement; and
(ii) whether the applicant cooperated with the medical
practitioner appointed to perform the assessment;
(h) whether a health assessment report for the applicant
states that the applicant is unable to competently and
safely practise as a professional engineer;
(i) whether the board reasonably believes a materially false
or misleading representation or document is included in
the application;
(j) any other issue relevant to the applicant’s ability to
competently practise as a registered professional
engineer, including, for example, the applicant’s mental
or physical health.
Division 3 Decision on applications for
registration
12 Deciding application
(1) The board must consider each application for registration
made under section 8 and either grant or refuse to grant the
application as soon as practicable after the last of the
following events to happen—
(a) the board receives the application;
[s 13]
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(b) the board receives all necessary information to decide
the application.
(2) In deciding the application, the board must have regard to the
assessment of an assessment entity, if any, given to the board
by the applicant under section 8(2)(b)(ii).
13 Grant of application
(1) If the board decides to grant the application, it must as soon as
practicable—
(a) register the applicant as a registered professional
engineer in 1 or more of the areas of engineering for
which the applicant is qualified for registration; and
(b) give the applicant a certificate of registration.
(2) The board may, in granting the application, decide to impose
conditions on the applicant’s registration that are reasonable
and relevant.
(3) If the board decides to impose conditions on the applicant’s
registration, the board must as soon as practicable give the
applicant an information notice about the decision.
(4) In deciding the areas of engineering for which an applicant
may be registered, the board must have regard to the
applicant’s qualifications and competencies in the practice of
engineering.
14 Refusal of application
If the board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must
as soon as practicable—
(a) give the applicant an information notice for the decision;
and
(b) refund the fees that accompanied the application less a
reasonable amount, if any, prescribed under a regulation
for processing the application.
[s 15]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 19
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
15 Period of registration
(1) The period of registration that is to apply to a registered
professional engineer (the registration period) is a financial
year.
(2) If the board decides to register an applicant during a
registration period, the registration remains in force for the
period—
(a) commencing on the day when the board makes the
decision; and
(b) ending on the last day of the registration period.
Division 4 Renewal and restoration of
registrations
Subdivision 1 Preliminary
16 Meaning of continuing registration requirements
(1) Continuing registration requirements are requirements that,
if satisfied, demonstrate that an applicant for renewal or
restoration of registration has maintained competency in the
practice of engineering in the area of engineering for which
the applicant is, or was, registered.
(2) The requirements may include requirements about the
following for an area of engineering—
(a) the nature, extent and period of practice of engineering
by the applicant;
(b) the nature and extent of continuing professional
development to be undertaken by the applicant;
(c) the nature and extent of research, study or teaching,
relating to engineering, to be undertaken by the
applicant;
[s 17]
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(d) the nature and extent of administrative work, relating to
engineering, to be performed by the applicant.
(3) The requirements are met by—
(a) if the applicant is registered with an assessment entity
for participation in the continuing registration
requirements of an assessment scheme conducted by the
entity—complying with the continuing registration
requirements of the assessment scheme; or
(b) otherwise—complying with the board’s continuing
registration requirements for the area of engineering for
which the applicant is, or was, registered.
(4) An assessment entity must—
(a) keep published the continuing registration requirements
of each of the entity’s assessment schemes on the
entity’s website; and
(b) ensure the continuing registration requirements of each
of the entity’s assessment schemes are readily available
to any registered professional engineer on request.
(5) The board must—
(a) keep published the board’s continuing registration
requirements on the board’s website; and
(b) keep the requirements available for inspection, without
charge, at the board’s office when the office is open to
the public; and
(c) if asked by a person and on payment of the fee, if any,
prescribed under a regulation, give the person a copy of
the requirements.
17 Notification of expiry of registration
The board must give a registered professional engineer notice
of the expiry of the engineer’s registration at least 3 months
before the expiry.
[s 18]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 21
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
Subdivision 2 Renewal
18 Applying for renewal
(1) A registered professional engineer may apply to the board for
renewal of the professional engineer’s registration.
(2) The application may only be made at least 1 month, but not
more than 3 months, before the last day of the registration
period (the expiry day).
(3) The application must be—
(a) in the approved form; and
(b) accompanied by each of the following—
(i) the documents, identified in the approved form, the
board reasonably requires to decide the
application;
(ii) the annual registration fee.
(4) Despite subsection (2), the board may accept an application
for renewal of registration made within 1 month before the
expiry day if the board is satisfied it would be reasonable in
all the circumstances to accept the application.
(5) The approved form must provide for the inclusion of the
applicant’s contact details as a registered professional
engineer.
(6) The registered professional engineer also must provide any
other relevant information reasonably required by the board to
decide the application.
19 Registration in force while application is considered
(1) If an application is made under section 18(2), or the board
decides to accept an application under section 18(4), the
applicant’s registration is taken to continue in force from the
day it would, apart from this section, have expired until—
[s 20]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
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(a) if the board decides to renew the registration—the day a
new certificate of registration is given to the applicant
under section 21; or
(b) if the board decides to refuse to renew the
registration—the day stated, under section 22(a), in the
information notice for the decision; or
(c) if the application is taken to have lapsed under
section 27—the day it is taken to have lapsed.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the registration is earlier
suspended or cancelled under this Act.
20 Deciding application
(1) The board must consider an accepted application and either
renew or refuse to renew the registration as soon as
practicable after the last of the following events to happen—
(a) the board receives the application;
(b) the board receives all necessary information to decide
the application.
(2) In deciding the application, the board must have regard to—
(a) whether the board considers the applicant is fit to
practise as a registered professional engineer; and
(b) the extent, if any, to which the applicant has satisfied the
continuing registration requirements.
(3) Also, for an application for renewal of registration as a
non-practising professional engineer, the board must be
satisfied the applicant will not carry out, or be responsible for
the carrying out of, professional engineering services within
the registration period to which the application relates.
(4) In considering whether an applicant is fit to practise as a
registered professional engineer, the board may have regard to
the same matters to which the board may have regard in
deciding whether an applicant for registration is fit to practise
as a registered professional engineer.
[s 21]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 23
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
Note—
For the matters the board may have regard to in deciding if an applicant
for registration is fit to practise as a registered professional engineer,
see section 11.
(5) In this section—
accepted application means an application made under
section 18(2) or an application the board accepts under
section 18(4).
21 Renewal of registration
(1) If the board decides to renew the applicant’s registration, it
must as soon as practicable give the applicant a new certificate
of registration.
(2) The board may, in renewing the applicant’s registration,
decide to impose conditions on the applicant’s registration
that are reasonable and relevant.
(3) If the board decides to impose conditions on the registration,
the board must as soon as practicable give the applicant an
information notice about the decision.
22 Refusal to renew registration
If the board decides to refuse to renew the registration, it must
as soon as practicable—
(a) give the applicant an information notice for the decision
stating the day, not before the expiry day and not earlier
than 7 days after the notice is given, on which the
registration ends; and
(b) refund the annual registration fee that accompanied the
application.
[s 23]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Page 24 Current as at 1 July 2024
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Subdivision 3 Restoration
23 Applying for restoration
(1) If a person’s registration has expired, the person may, within 2
months after the expiry, apply to the board for restoration of
the registration.
(2) The application must be—
(a) in the approved form; and
(b) accompanied by each of the following—
(i) the documents, identified in the approved form, the
board reasonably requires to decide the
application;
(ii) the application fee prescribed under a regulation;
(iii) the annual registration fee.
(3) Despite subsection (1), the board may accept an application
for restoration of registration made more than 2 months after
the expiry if the board is satisfied it would be reasonable in all
the circumstances to accept the application.
(4) The approved form must provide for the inclusion of the
applicant’s contact details as a registered professional
engineer.
(5) The applicant also must provide any other relevant
information reasonably required by the board to decide the
application.
24 Deciding application
(1) The board must consider an accepted application and either
restore or refuse to restore the registration as soon as
practicable after the last of the following events to happen—
(a) the board receives the application;
(b) the board receives all necessary information to decide
the application.
[s 25]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 25
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
(2) In deciding the application, the board must have regard to—
(a) whether the board considers the applicant is fit to
practise as a registered professional engineer; and
(b) the extent, if any, to which the applicant has satisfied the
continuing registration requirements.
(3) Also, for an application for restoration of registration as a
non-practising professional engineer, the board must be
satisfied the applicant will not carry out, or be responsible for
the carrying out of, professional engineering services within
the registration period to which the application relates.
(4) In considering whether an applicant is fit to practise as a
registered professional engineer, the board may have regard to
the same matters to which the board may have regard in
deciding whether an applicant for registration is fit to practise
as a registered professional engineer.
(5) In this section—
accepted application means an application made under
section 23(1) or an application the board accepts under
section 23(3).
25 Restoration of registration
(1) If the board decides to restore the applicant’s registration, the
board must as soon as practicable give the applicant a new
certificate of registration.
(2) The board may, in restoring the applicant’s registration,
decide to impose conditions on the registration that are
reasonable and relevant.
(3) If the board decides to impose conditions on the applicant’s
registration, the board must as soon as practicable give the
applicant an information notice about the decision.
(4) The registration remains in force for the period—
(a) commencing on the day when the board makes the
decision; and
[s 26]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
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(b) ending on the last day of the registration period in which
the decision is made.
26 Refusal to restore registration
If the board decides to refuse to restore the registration, it
must as soon as practicable—
(a) give the applicant an information notice for the decision;
and
(b) refund the annual registration fee that accompanied the
application.
Division 5 Lapsing of applications
27 Lapsing of application
(1) This section applies if an application for registration, or
renewal or restoration of registration, is made under this part.
(2) The board may make a requirement under section 8(4), 18(6)
or 23(5) for information to decide the application by giving
the applicant a notice stating—
(a) the required information; and
(b) the time by which the information must be given to the
board; and
(c) that, if the information is not given to the board by the
stated time, the application will lapse.
(3) The stated time must be at least 21 days after the requirement
is made.
(4) The board may give the applicant a further notice extending or
further extending the time if the board is satisfied it would be
reasonable in all the circumstances to give the extension.
(5) A notice may be given under subsection (4) even if the time to
which it relates has lapsed.
[s 27A]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 27
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
(6) If the applicant does not comply with the requirement within
the stated time, or any extension, the application lapses.
(7) If an application lapses under subsection (6), the board must,
as soon as practicable after it lapses, refund the fees that
accompanied the application less a reasonable amount, if any,
prescribed under a regulation for processing the application.
Division 5A Further conditions imposed on
registration
27A Imposition of certain conditions on registration
(1) The board may impose the following conditions on a
registered professional engineer’s registration—
(a) if a health assessor recommends, under
section 35G(2)(b), that a condition be imposed on the
engineer’s registration—a condition that is reasonable
and relevant having regard to the health assessor’s
recommendation;
(b) a condition the board decides to impose under
section 73(2)(d).
(2) If the board imposes a condition on a registered professional
engineer’s registration under this section, the board must give
the engineer—
(a) a notice (the warning notice) stating that the registered
professional engineer must return the engineer’s
certificate of registration to the board within 21 days
after receiving the notice; and
(b) an information notice for the decision.
(3) A condition imposed under this section has effect when the
warning notice is given to the registered professional engineer
and does not depend on the condition being noted on the
engineer’s certificate of registration.
[s 28]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Page 28 Current as at 1 July 2024
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Division 6 Cancellation and immediate
suspension of registrations
28 Grounds for cancellation
The board may cancel a registered professional engineer’s
registration if—
(a) the board believes on reasonable grounds the registered
professional engineer was registered because of a
materially false or misleading representation or
document; or
(b) the registered professional engineer is—
(i) affected by bankruptcy action; or
(ii) an executive officer of a corporation affected by
control action; or
(c) the registered professional engineer’s registration to
practise as a professional engineer under a law applying,
or that applied, in the Commonwealth, another State or a
foreign country has been cancelled under that law for
disciplinary reasons; or
(d) the registered professional engineer’s membership of an
association of professional engineers, whether in
Australia or a foreign country, has been cancelled under
the association’s rules for disciplinary reasons; or
(e) an order about the registered professional engineer is
made under section 131 or 132; or
(f) a proceeding is taken against the registered professional
engineer for a matter mentioned in section 36 under a
law applying in the Commonwealth, another State or a
foreign country; or
(g) the registered professional engineer is convicted of—
(i) an indictable offence; or
(ii) an offence against this Act; or
[s 29]
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(iii) another offence, relating to the practice of
engineering, against a law applying in the State,
the Commonwealth, another State or a foreign
country; or
(h) the registered professional engineer has contravened a
condition of the engineer’s registration; or
(i) the registered professional engineer is required to
undergo a health assessment and—
(i) the engineer does not comply with the
requirement; or
(ii) the engineer does not cooperate with the medical
practitioner appointed to perform the assessment;
or
(j) a health assessment report for the registered professional
engineer states that the engineer is unable to
competently and safely practise as an engineer.
29 Procedure for cancellation
(1) If the board proposes to cancel a registered professional
engineer’s registration, the board must give the engineer a
notice stating the following—
(a) the board proposes to cancel the registration;
(b) the grounds for the proposed cancellation;
(c) the facts and circumstances that are the basis for the
grounds;
(d) that the engineer may make, within a stated period,
written representations to show why the registration
should not be cancelled.
(2) The stated period must end at least 21 days after the engineer
is given the notice.
(3) The board may also ask for more information by giving the
registered professional engineer a notice stating—
(a) the information sought; and
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(b) the time, at least 21 days after the notice is given, by
which the information is required.
(4) If, after considering all written representations made within
the stated period and any requested information received by
the stated time, the board still believes a ground exists to
cancel the engineer’s registration, the board may cancel the
registration.
(5) The board must, as soon as practicable after making a
decision under subsection (3), give the engineer an
information notice for the decision.
(6) The decision takes effect on—
(a) the day the notice is given; or
(b) if a later day is stated in the notice—the stated day.
29A Immediate suspension of registration
(1) This section applies if the board reasonably believes—
(a) a ground exists to cancel a registered professional
engineer’s registration under section 28; and
(b) it is in the public interest to immediately suspend the
engineer’s registration.
(2) The board may, by information notice given to the registered
professional engineer, immediately suspend the engineer’s
registration.
(3) The information notice must also state the period of
suspension.
(4) The suspension—
(a) may be for the period the board decides; and
(b) has effect immediately when the notice is given.
(5) The board must end the suspension if satisfied that the ground
for the suspension no longer exist.
(6) The suspension ends if the registered professional engineer’s
registration is cancelled or otherwise ends.
[s 30]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
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Division 7 Offences
30 False or misleading statement
A person, in relation to an application under this part, must
not make a statement the person knows is false or misleading
in a material particular.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
31 False or misleading document
(1) A person, in relation to an application under this part, must
not give an entity a document containing information the
person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person if the person, when
giving the document—
(a) tells the entity, to the best of the person’s ability, how the
information in the document is false or misleading; and
(b) if the person has, or can reasonably obtain, the correct
information—gives the correct information.
31A When statement made or document given in relation to
application
(1) For sections 30 and 31, a person is taken to make a statement,
or give an entity a document, in relation to an application
under this part if the person makes the statement or gives the
document in connection with—
(a) the application or anything that accompanies the
application; or
(b) other information provided as required to decide the
application; or
(c) an assessment relevant to the application, including the
following—
[s 32]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
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(i) an assessment of qualifications;
(ii) an assessment of competencies;
(iii) a health assessment;
(iv) an assessment of whether the applicant has
satisfied the continuing registration requirements.
(2) For subsection (1), an assessment is relevant to an application
under this part—
(a) whether the assessment is carried out by the board or
another entity; and
(b) whether the assessment is carried out before or after the
application is made.
32 Notification about particular matters
A registered professional engineer must, within 21 days after
changing his or her name or contact details, advise the board
about the change unless the engineer has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.
32AA Notification of prescribed changes
(1) A registered professional engineer must give notice to the
board of a prescribed change for the engineer within 21 days
after the change, unless the engineer has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) In this section—
prescribed change, for a registered professional engineer,
means a change relating to a matter that the board may
consider under section 11 when deciding whether a person is
fit to practise as an engineer.
[s 32A]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 33
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32A Notification of disciplinary event by other bodies
(1) A registered professional engineer must, within 21 days after
a disciplinary event for the engineer, give notice to the board
of the disciplinary event, unless the engineer has a reasonable
excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) In this section—
disciplinary event, for a registered professional engineer,
means a proceeding taken against the engineer in relation to—
(a) the engineer’s membership of an association of
professional engineers; or
(b) the engineer’s registration to practise as an professional
engineer under a law applying in the Commonwealth,
another State or a foreign country.
32B Notification of inability to practise
(1) This section applies if a registered professional engineer has
been unable to competently and safely practise as a registered
professional engineer for a continuous period of 3 months
because of the engineer’s mental or physical health.
(2) The engineer must immediately notify the board in writing of
that fact, unless the engineer—
(a) has already notified the board in writing of the
incapacity; or
(b) has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
32C Amending or replacing certificates of registration after
certain conditions imposed
(1) This section applies if—
(a) a registered professional engineer receives a warning
notice under section 27A; or
[s 33]
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(b) the tribunal makes an order imposing a condition on the
engineer’s registration under section 131(3)(b).
(2) The engineer must return the engineer’s certificate of
registration to the board within 21 days after receiving the
warning notice or the tribunal makes the order, unless the
engineer has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(3) On receiving the certificate, the board must—
(a) amend the certificate appropriately and return it to the
engineer; or
(b) issue another certificate of registration to the engineer to
replace the certificate returned to the board.
(4) In this section—
warning notice see section 27A(2)(a).
Division 8 Miscellaneous
33 Surrender of registration
(1) A registered professional engineer may, by notice given to the
board, surrender the engineer’s registration.
(2) The surrender takes effect on the later of the following—
(a) the end of 7 days after the day the notice is given;
(b) a day stated in the notice for the surrender.
34 Form of certificate of registration
(1) A certificate of registration given under this part must be in
the approved form.
(2) The approved form must provide for the inclusion of—
(a) the registered professional engineer’s name; and
[s 35]
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(b) the area of engineering for which the engineer is
registered; and
(c) the period of registration; and
(d) whether the registered professional engineer is a
practising professional engineer or a non-practising
professional engineer.
35 Refund of fees—withdrawal of application
(1) This section applies if an applicant withdraws an application
made under this part before the application is decided.
(2) The board must, as soon as practicable after the application is
withdrawn—
(a) for an application for registration—refund the fees that
accompanied the application less a reasonable amount,
if any, prescribed under a regulation for processing the
application; or
(b) for an application for renewal or restoration of
registration—refund the annual registration fee that
accompanied the application.
35A Inquiries about fitness to practise as a registered
professional engineer
(1) This section applies to the following persons (each a relevant
person)—
(a) an individual applying for registration as a registered
professional engineer under section 8;
(b) a registered professional engineer applying for renewal
of registration under section 18;
(c) a person applying for restoration of the person’s
registration under section 23.
(2) The board may make inquiries about the relevant person to
help in deciding whether the person is, or continues to be, fit
to practise as a registered professional engineer.
[s 35B]
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Part 2 Registration of professional engineers
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35B Report about relevant person’s criminal history
(1) The board may ask the police commissioner for a written
report about the criminal history of a relevant person.
(2) If asked by the board, the police commissioner must give the
board a written report about the criminal history of the
relevant person.
(3) The duty imposed on the police commissioner applies only to
information in the commissioner’s possession or to which the
commissioner has access.
(4) A report mentioned in subsection (2) may only be used for the
purposes of this Act and must be destroyed as soon as
practicable after it is no longer needed for those purposes.
35C Information about relevant persons from assessment
entities
(1) The board may ask an assessment entity for information,
about a relevant person, relating to the practice of professional
engineering.
(2) If asked by the board, the assessment entity must give the
board the information mentioned in subsection (1) to which
the entity has access.
Note—
Contravention of this provision is a ground for cancelling or suspending
the approval of an assessment scheme.
(3) An assessment entity that, honestly and on reasonable
grounds, gives information to the board under subsection (2)
is not subject to any liability for giving the information and no
action, claim or demand may be taken or made of or against
the entity for giving the information.
(4) Information obtained under this section may only be used for
the purposes of this Act.
[s 35D]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2A Health assessments
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 37
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
Part 2A Health assessments
35D Definitions for pt 2A
In this part—
health assessment report see section 35G(1).
subject engineer see section 35E(1).
35E Health assessment
(1) This section applies if the board reasonably believes a
registered professional engineer (the subject engineer) is
unable to competently and safely practise as a registered
professional engineer because of the engineer’s mental or
physical health.
(2) The board may require the subject engineer to undergo a
health assessment by a medical practitioner (the health
assessor) appointed by the board.
(3) If the board decides to require a health assessment, the board
must give the subject engineer an information notice about the
decision to require the assessment that includes—
(a) a stated date, time and place, for the assessment; and
(b) the name and qualifications of the health assessor
appointed by the board to conduct the assessment; and
(c) the possible consequences of failing to undergo, or
cooperate during, the assessment.
(4) The stated date must be no sooner than 14 days after the
information notice is given to the subject engineer unless the
engineer and the board agree, in writing, to an earlier date.
(5) The stated time and place must be reasonable having regard to
the circumstances of the subject engineer as known to the
board.
[s 35F]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2A Health assessments
Page 38 Current as at 1 July 2024
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35F Appointment of health assessor
Before appointing a medical practitioner as a health assessor,
the board must be satisfied the medical practitioner does not
have a personal or professional connection with the subject
engineer that may prejudice the way in which the medical
practitioner conducts the assessment.
35G Health assessment report
(1) A health assessor conducting all or part of a health assessment
of a subject engineer must prepare a report about the
assessment (health assessment report).
(2) The health assessment report must include—
(a) the health assessor’s findings as to whether the subject
engineer is currently unable to competently and safely
practise as a registered professional engineer; and
(b) if the health assessor finds that the subject engineer is
unable to competently and safely practise as a registered
professional engineer—the health assessor’s
recommendations as to any conditions that could be
imposed on the engineer’s registration to overcome the
inability.
(3) The health assessor must give the health assessment report to
the board and a copy to the subject engineer.
35H Payment for health assessment and report
(1) The board is liable for the cost of the health assessment and
the preparation of the health assessment report.
(2) However, if the assessment is that the subject engineer is
currently unable to competently and safely practise as a
registered professional engineer, the board may require the
engineer, by notice, to pay the board the amount of the cost of
the assessment and of the preparation of the health assessment
report.
[s 35I]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2A Health assessments
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 39
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(3) The amount mentioned in subsection (2) is a debt payable to
the board.
35I Use of health assessment report
(1) A health assessment report is not admissible in any
proceeding, and a person can not be compelled to produce the
report or to give evidence about the report or its contents in
any proceeding.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to—
(a) a proceeding relating to an application by the subject
engineer to whom the report relates for registration as,
or renewal or restoration of registration as, a registered
professional engineer under this Act; or
(b) a proceeding on an appeal by the subject engineer
against a decision of the board—
(i) refusing to grant, renew or restore registration; or
(ii) cancelling or immediately suspending registration.
(3) Also, subsection (1) does not apply if the report is admitted or
produced, or evidence about the report or its contents is given,
in a proceeding with the consent of—
(a) the health assessor who prepared the report; and
(b) the registered professional engineer to whom the report
relates.
(4) A health assessment report may only be used for the purposes
of this Act and must be destroyed as soon as practicable after
it is no longer needed for those purposes.
(5) In this section—
health assessment report includes a copy of the report or a
part of the report or copy.
[s 35J]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 2B Audits of registered professional engineers
Page 40 Current as at 1 July 2024
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Part 2B Audits of registered
professional engineers
35J Approved audit programs
(1) The board may approve a program (an approved audit
program) to audit 1 or more registered professional engineers.
(2) The purpose of the approved audit program is to find out if a
registered professional engineer to whom the program applies
(an audited engineer) has complied with—
(a) a code of practice approved under section 108; or
(b) part 7.
(3) The approved audit program must state all of the following—
(a) the purpose of the program;
(b) when the program starts and ends;
(c) the criteria used to select a registered professional
engineer for the program;
(d) who will carry out the program;
(e) any other matter relevant to carrying out the program.
35K Power to require production of documents
(1) The board may, by notice given to an audited engineer, require
the audited engineer to give the board a copy of, or access to, a
document about a stated matter in the audited engineer’s
possession or control.
(2) The notice must require the copy of, or access to, the
document to be given within a stated reasonable period and in
a stated reasonable way.
(3) The audited engineer must comply with the requirement,
unless the audited engineer has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
[s 36AA]
Professional Engineers Act 2002
Part 3 Complaints and investigations
Current as at 1 July 2024 Page 41
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(4) For subsection (3), it is a reasonable excuse for the audited
engineer not to comply with the requirement if complying
with the requirement might tend to incriminate the audited
engineer or expose the audited engineer to a penalty.
Part 3 Complaints and investigations
Division 1AA Extended application of part 3
36AA Application to former registered professional engineers
(1) Action may be taken under this part in relation to a person
who was a registered professional engineer at the time the
conduct of the person that is relevant for this part happened
even though the person is no longer a registered professional
engineer.
(2) For the purpose of taking action under this part, the person
mentioned in subsection (1) is taken to be a registered
professional engineer.
(3) This section does not limit, but may extend, the operation of
the other provisions of this part.
Division 1 Grounds for disciplining registered
professional engineers
36 Grounds for disciplining a registered professional
engineer
Each of the following is a ground (a disciplinary ground) for
disciplining a registered professional engineer—
(a) the engineer has, whether before or after the
commencement of this Act, behaved in a way that
constitutes unsatisfactory professional conduct;
[s 37]
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(b) the engineer has failed to comply with a provision of
this Act or the repealed Act;
(c) the engineer has been convicted of an offence against an
Act of the State, the Commonwealth or another State
related to the practice of engineering;
(d) the engineer has contravened an undertaking entered
into by the engineer and the board under
section 73(2)(b);
(e) the engineer has contravened a condition of the
engineer’s registration.
Division 2 Complaints
37 Complaints about conduct
(1) A person who is aggrieved by a registered professional
engineer’s conduct in carrying out professional engineering
services, whether before or after the commencement of this
Act, may make a complaint about the conduct to the board.
(2) A complaint must be in the approved form.
(3) The chairperson must keep available for inspection, at the
board’s office by members of the public, information about—
(a) the type of conduct the board considers may give rise to
a complaint; and
(b) how a person may make a complaint.
(4) The board must publish on the board’s website the
information mentioned in subsection (3).
38 Board may require further information or statutory
declaration
(1) The board may, by notice, ask a complainant to give the board
further information about the complaint within the reasonable
time stated in the notice.
[s 39]
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(2) Also, the board may require a complainant to verify the
complaint or further information by statutory declaration.
39 Rejection of complaint
The board may decide to reject a complaint if the board
reasonably considers the complaint is—
(a) frivolous, trivial or vexatious; or
(b) misconceived or lacking in substance.
40 Withdrawal of complaint
(1) If a complainant withdraws a complaint, the board need not
take any further action about the complaint.
(2) However, the withdrawal does not stop the board—
(a) investigating, or continuing to investigate, the matter of
the complaint; or
(b) authorising an investigator to investigate, or continue to
investigate, the matter of the complaint.
(3) In deciding whether to act as mentioned in subsection (2), the
board must have regard to the main objects of this Act and the
grounds for disciplining a registered professional engineer.
Note—
For the grounds for disciplining a registered professional engineer, see
section 36.
Division 3 Investigations
41 Investigation of registered professional engineer’s
conduct
(1) This section applies if—
(a) a complaint is made about a registered professional
engineer’s conduct in carrying out professional
engineering services; or
[s 42]
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(b) the board reasonably believes an aspect of a registered
professional engineer’s conduct in carrying out
professional engineering services may provide a ground
for disciplining the engineer.
(2) The board may conduct an investigation of the registered
professional engineer’s conduct or authorise, in writing, an
investigator to conduct the investigation.
(3) To help the board decide whether to act under subsection (2),
the board may give the registered professional engineer a
notice stating he or she may make a submission to the board
about the complaint or ground for disciplining the registered
professional engineer within the reasonable time stated in the
notice.
42 Investigation of compliance with Act
(1) If the board reasonably suspects a person has committed an
offence against this Act, the board may—
(a) investigate the suspected offence; or
(b) authorise, in writing, an investigator to conduct the
investigation.
(2) For helping the board decide whether to act under
subsection (1), the board may give the person a notice stating
the person may make a submission to the board about the
matter the subject of the suspected offence within the
reasonable time stated in the notice.
43 Investigation to be conducted as quickly as possible
The board, or an investigator it authorises to conduct an
investigation, must conduct the investigation as quickly as
possible having regard to the nature of the matter being
investigated.
[s 44]
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Part 3 Complaints and investigations
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44 Notice of investigation
(1) As soon as practicable after deciding to conduct, or
authorising an investigator to conduct, an investigation in
relation to a person, the board must give the person notice of
the investigation.
(2) The notice must state each of the following—
(a) whether the investigation is being conducted by the
board or an investigator;
(b) if an investigator is conducting the investigation—the
investigator’s name;
(c) if the investigation relates to a complaint—the nature of
the complaint;
(d) if the board or an investigator is conducting the
investigation on the board’s own initiative under
section 41(1)(b) or 42—the grounds that are the basis
for the investigation;
(e) that the person may make, during the course of the
investigation, a submission to the board or investigator
about the complaint or other grounds for the
investigation, and how a submission may be made.
(3) However, the board need not give the person the notice if the
board reasonably believes that giving the notice may—
(a) seriously prejudice the investigation; or
(b) place the complainant or another person at risk of
harassment or intimidation.
(4) A submission under subsection (2)(e) must be made to—
(a) if an investigator is conducting the investigation—the
investigator; or
(b) otherwise—the board.
45 Board may engage persons to help investigation
(1) The board may engage a person to help the board or
investigator in conducting an investigation if the board is
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satisfied the person is sufficiently qualified or experienced to
help the board or investigator about the matter the subject of
the investigation.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the board may engage the
person to give the board or investigator a written report about
the matter the subject of the investigation.
Division 4 Investigators
46 Function of investigator
An investigator has the function of conducting the
investigation the investigator is authorised to conduct by the
board.
47 Powers of investigator
To conduct the investigation, an investigator has the powers
given to the investigator under this Act.
Division 5 Appointment of investigators and
other matters
48 Appointment and qualifications
(1) The board may appoint a person as an investigator.
(2) The person must be an individual who is not a board member.
(3) However, the board may appoint a person as an investigator
only if the board is satisfied the person is appropriately
qualified.
49 Appointment conditions and limit on powers
(1) An investigator holds office on any conditions stated in—
(a) the investigator’s instrument of appointment; or
[s 50]
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(b) a signed notice given to the investigator; or
(c) a regulation.
(2) The instrument of appointment, a signed notice given to the
investigator or a regulation may limit the investigator’s powers
under this Act.
(3) In this section—
signed notice means a notice signed by the chairperson or
deputy chairperson.
50 Issue of identity card
(1) The board must issue an identity card to each investigator.
(2) The identity card must—
(a) contain a recent photograph of the investigator; and
(b) contain a copy of the investigator’s signature; and
(c) identify the person as an investigator under this Act; and
(d) state an expiry date for the card.
51 Production or display of identity card
(1) In exercising a power under this Act in relation to a person, an
investigator must—
(a) produce the investigator’s identity card for the person’s
inspection before exercising the power; or
(b) have the identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to
the person when exercising the power.
(2) However, if it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1),
the investigator must produce the identity card for the person’s
inspection at the first reasonable opportunity.
(3) For subsection (1), an investigator does not exercise a power
in relation to a person only because the inspector has entered a
public place under section 62A(1)(b).
[s 52]
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Part 3 Complaints and investigations
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52 When investigator ceases to hold office
(1) An investigator ceases to hold office if any of the following
happens—
(a) the term of office stated in a condition of office ends;
(b) under another condition of office, the investigator ceases
to hold office;
(c) the investigator’s resignation under section 53 takes
effect.
(2) Subsection (1) does not limit the ways an investigator may
cease to hold office.
(3) In this section—
condition of office means a condition on which the
investigator holds office.
53 Resignation
An investigator may resign by signed notice given to the
board.
54 Failure to return identity card
An individual who ceases to be an investigator must return the
individual’s identity card to the board within 21 days after
ceasing to be an investigator, unless the individual has a
reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.
Division 6 Powers of board and investigators
55 Power to require information or attendance
(1) For an investigation, the board or an investigator may, by
notice given to a person, require the person to—
[s 56]
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(a) give the board or investigator information related to the
investigation by a stated reasonable time; or
(b) attend before the board or investigator at a stated
reasonable time and place to answer questions, or
produce documents, related to the investigation.
(2) For information that is an electronic document, compliance
with the requirement requires the giving of a clear image or
written version of the electronic document.
(3) In this section—
information includes a document.
Example of information—
engineering plans or drawings, or a document containing engineering
calculations
56 Offence to contravene information or attendance
requirement
(1) A person of whom a requirement is made under
section 55(1)(a) must comply with the requirement unless the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) A person of whom a requirement is made under
section 55(1)(b) must not fail, without reasonable excuse—
(a) to attend as required by the notice; or
(b) to continue to attend as required by the board or
investigator until excused from further attendance; or
(c) to answer a question the person is required to answer by
the board or investigator; or
(d) to produce a document the person is required to produce
by the notice.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(3) It is a reasonable excuse for a person not to give the
information, answer the question or produce the document, if
giving the information, answering the question or producing
[s 57]
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the document might tend to incriminate the person or expose
the person to a penalty.
57 Inspection and copying of produced documents
(1) If a document is produced to the board or an investigator,
whether under a notice under section 55 or otherwise, the
board or investigator may inspect it.
(2) Also, the board or investigator may make a copy of, or take an
extract from, the document if the board or investigator
reasonably considers the document may be relevant to the
investigation being conducted by the board or investigator.
Division 7 Seizure of documents
58 Seizing document as evidence
The board or investigator may seize a document mentioned in
section 57(1) if the board or investigator reasonably believes
the document is evidence that is relevant to the investigation
being conducted by the board or investigator.
59 Receipt for seized document
(1) As soon as practicable after the board or investigator seizes a
document, the board or investigator must give a receipt for it
to the person from whom it was seized.
(2) The receipt must describe generally each document seized and
its condition.
60 Investigator to give seized document to board
If an investigator seizes a document under section 58, the
investigator must give the document to the board when the
investigator gives the board a report about the investigation
under section 71(1).
[s 61]
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61 Access to seized document
(1) Until a seized document is returned, the board or investigator
must allow its owner to inspect or copy it.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if it would be unreasonable to
allow the inspection or copying.
62 Return of seized document
(1) The board must return a document seized as evidence,
whether by the board or an investigator, to its owner—
(a) at the end of 6 months; or
(b) if proceedings involving the document are started within
6 months—at the end of the proceedings and any appeal
from the proceedings.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the board must immediately return the
document to its owner if the board stops being satisfied its
continued retention as evidence is necessary.
Division 7A Entry of places by investigators
Subdivision 1 Power to enter
62A General power to enter places
(1) An investigator may enter a place if—
(a) an occupier at the place consents under subdivision 2 to
the entry and section 62D has been complied with for
the occupier; or
(b) it is a public place and the entry is made when the place
is open to the public; or
(c) the entry is authorised under a warrant and, if there is an
occupier of the place, section 62I has been complied
with for the occupier.
[s 62B]
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(2) If the power to enter arose only because an occupier of the
place consented to the entry, the power is subject to any
conditions of the consent and ceases if the consent is
withdrawn.
(3) If the power to enter is under a warrant, the power is subject to
the terms of the warrant.
Subdivision 2 Entry by consent
62B Application of subdivision
This subdivision applies if an investigator intends to ask an
occupier of a place to consent to the investigator or another
investigator entering the place under section 62A(1)(a).
62C Incidental entry to ask for access
For the purpose of asking the occupier for the consent, an
investigator may, without the occupier’s consent or a
warrant—
(a) enter land around premises at the place to an extent that
is reasonable to contact the occupier; or
(b) enter part of the place the investigator reasonably
considers members of the public ordinarily are allowed
to enter when they wish to contact an occupier of the
place.
62D Matters investigator must tell occupier
Before asking for the consent, the investigator must—
(a) explain to the occupier the purpose of the entry,
including the powers intended to be exercised; and
(b) tell the occupier that—
(i) the occupier is not required to consent; and
[s 62E]
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(ii) the consent may be given subject to conditions and
may be withdrawn at any time.
62E Consent acknowledgement
(1) If the consent is given, the investigator may ask the occupier
to sign an acknowledgement of the consent.
(2) The acknowledgement must state—
(a) the purpose of the entry, including the powers to be
exercised; and
(b) that the occupier has been given an explanation about
the purpose of the entry, including the powers intended
to be exercised; and
(c) that the occupier has been told—
(i) that the occupier is not required to consent; and
(ii) that the consent may be given subject to conditions
and may be withdrawn at any time; and
(d) that the occupier gives the investigator or another
investigator consent to enter the place and exercise the
powers; and
(e) the day and time the consent was given; and
(f) any conditions of the consent.
(3) If the occupier signs the acknowledgement, the investigator
must immediately give a copy to the occupier.
(4) If—
(a) an issue arises in a proceeding about whether the
occupier consented to the entry; and
(b) a signed acknowledgement complying with
subsection (2) for the entry is not produced in evidence;
the onus of proof is on the person relying on the lawfulness of
the entry to prove the occupier consented.
[s 62F]
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Part 3 Complaints and investigations
Page 54 Current as at 1 July 2024
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Subdivision 3 Entry under warrant
62F Application for warrant
(1) An investigator may apply to a magistrate for a warrant for a
place.
(2) The investigator must prepare a written application that states
the grounds on which the warrant is sought.
(3) The written application must be sworn.
(4) The magistrate may refuse to consider the application until the
investigator gives the magistrate all the information the
magistrate requires about the application in the way the
magistrate requires.
Example—
The magistrate may require additional information supporting the
written application to be given by statutory declaration.
62G Issue of warrant
(1) The magistrate may issue the warrant for the place only if the
magistrate is satisfied there are reasonable grounds for
suspecting there is at the place, or will be at the place within
the next 7 days, a particular thing or activity that may provide
evidence of an offence against this Act.
(2) The warrant must state—
(a) the place to which the warrant applies; and
(b) that a stated investigator or any investigator may with
necessary and reasonable help and force—
(i) enter the place and any other place necessary for
entry to the place; and
(ii) exercise the powers of the investigator; and
(c) particulars of the offence that the magistrate considers
appropriate; and
[s 62H]
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(d) the name of the person suspected of having committed
the offence unless the name is unknown or the
magistrate considers it inappropriate to state the name;
and
(e) the evidence that may be seized under the warrant; and
(f) the hours of the day or night when the place may be
entered; and
(g) the magistrate’s name; and
(h) the day and time of the warrant’s issue; and
(i) the day, within 14 days after the warrant’s issue, the
warrant ends.
62H Defect in relation to a warrant
A warrant is not invalidated by a defect in—
(a) the warrant; or
(b) compliance with this subdivision;
unless the defect affects the substance of the warrant in a
material particular.
62I Entry procedure
(1) This section applies if an investigator named in a warrant
issued under this subdivision for a place is intending to enter
the place under the warrant.
(2) Before entering the place, the investigator must do or make a
reasonable attempt to do the following things—
(a) identify himself or herself to a person present at the
place who is an occupier of the place by producing the
investigator’s identity card or another document
evidencing the investigator’s appointment;
(b) give the person a copy of the warrant;
(c) tell the person the investigator is permitted by the
warrant to enter the place;
[s 62J]
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(d) give the person an opportunity to allow the investigator
immediate entry to the place without using force.
(3) However, the investigator need not comply with
subsection (2) if the investigator believes on reasonable
grounds that immediate entry to the place is required to ensure
the effective execution of the warrant is not frustrated.
Division 7B General powers of investigators
after entering places
62J Application of division
(1) The powers under this division may be exercised if an
investigator enters a place under section 62A.
(2) However, if the investigator enters a place to get the
occupier’s consent to enter a place, this division applies to the
investigator only if the consent is given or the entry is
otherwise authorised.
62K General powers
(1) The investigator may do any of the following (each a general
power)—
(a) search any part of the place;
(b) inspect, examine or film any part of the place or
anything at the place;
(c) take for examination a thing, or a sample of or from a
thing, at the place;
(d) take an extract from, or copy, a document at the place, or
take the document to another place to copy;
(e) take into or onto the place any person, equipment and
materials the investigator reasonably requires for
exercising a power under this division;
[s 62L]
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(f) remain at the place for the time necessary to achieve the
purpose of the entry.
(2) The investigator may take a necessary step to allow the
exercise of a general power.
(3) If the investigator takes a document from the place to copy it,
the investigator must copy the document and return it to the
place as soon as practicable.
(4) If the investigator takes from the place an article or device
reasonably capable of producing a document from an
electronic document to produce the document, the investigator
must produce the document and return the article or device to
the place as soon as practicable.
(5) In this section—
examine includes analyse, test, account, measure, weigh,
grade, gauge and identify.
film includes photograph, videotape and record an image in
an other way.
inspect, a thing, includes open the thing and examine its
contents.
62L Power to require reasonable help
(1) The investigator may make a requirement (a help
requirement) of an occupier of the place or a person at the
place to give the investigator reasonable help to exercise a
general power, including, for example, to produce a document
or to give information.
(2) When making the help requirement, the investigator must give
the person an offence warning for the requirement.
62M Offence to contravene help requirement
(1) A person of whom a help requirement has been made must
comply with the requirement unless the person has a
reasonable excuse.
[s 62N]
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Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) It is a reasonable excuse for an individual not to comply with
a help requirement if complying might tend to incriminate the
individual or expose the individual to a penalty.
Division 7C Power to seize evidence
62N Seizing evidence at a public place that may be entered
without consent or warrant
(1) This section applies if an investigator enters a public place.
(2) The investigator may seize a thing at the public place if the
investigator reasonably believes the thing is evidence of an
offence against this Act.
62O Seizing evidence at a place that may only be entered with
consent or warrant
(1) This section applies if—
(a) an investigator is authorised to enter a place under this
part only with the consent of the occupier of the place or
a warrant; and
(b) the investigator enters the place after obtaining the
necessary consent or warrant.
(2) If the investigator enters the place with the occupier’s consent,
the investigator may seize a thing at the place if—
(a) the investigator reasonably believes the thing is evidence
of an offence under this Act; and
(b) seizure of the thing is consistent with the purpose of
entry as explained to the occupier when asking for the
occupier’s consent.
(3) If the investigator enters the place under a warrant, the
investigator may seize the evidence for which the warrant was
issued.
[s 62P]
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(4) The investigator may also seize anything else at the place if
the investigator reasonably believes—
(a) the thing is evidence of an offence against this Act; and
(b) the seizure is necessary to prevent the thing being
hidden, lost or destroyed.
62P Power to secure seized thing
(1) Having seized a thing under this division, an investigator
may—
(a) leave it at the place where it was seized (the place of
seizure) and take reasonable action to restrict access to
it; or
(b) move the thing from the place of seizure.
(2) For subsection (1)(a), the investigator may, for example—
(a) seal the thing, or the entrance to the place of seizure, and
mark the thing or place to show access to the thing or
place is restricted; or
(b) for equipment—make it inoperable; or
(c) require a person the investigator reasonably believes is
in control of the place or thing to do an act mentioned in
paragraph (a) or (b) or anything else an investigator
could do under subsection (1)(a).
62Q Offence to contravene seizure requirement
A person must comply with a requirement made of the person
under section 62P(2)(c) unless the person has a reasonable
excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
[s 62R]
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62R Offence to interfere
(1) If access to a seized thing is restricted under section 62P, a
person must not tamper with the thing or with anything used
to restrict access to the thing without—
(a) an investigator’s approval; or
(b) a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) If access to a place is restricted under section 62P, a person
must not enter the place in contravention of the restriction or
tamper with anything used to restrict access to the place
without—
(a) an investigator’s approval; or
(b) a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
62S Receipt and information notice for seized thing
(1) This section applies if an investigator seizes anything under
this division unless—
(a) the investigator reasonably believes there is no-one
apparently in possession of the thing or it has been
abandoned; or
(b) because of the condition, nature and value of the thing it
would be unreasonable to require the investigator to
comply with this section.
(2) The investigator must, as soon as practicable after seizing the
thing, give an owner or person in control of the thing before it
was seized—
(a) a receipt for the thing that generally describes the thing
and its condition; and
(b) an information notice about the decision to seize it.
(3) However, if an owner or person from whom the thing is seized
is not present when it is seized, the receipt and information
[s 62T]
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notice may be given by leaving them in a conspicuous
position and in a reasonably secure way at the place at which
the thing is seized.
(4) The receipt and information notice may—
(a) be given in the same document; and
(b) relate to more than 1 seized thing.
(5) The investigator may delay giving the receipt and information
notice if the investigator reasonably suspects giving them may
frustrate or otherwise hinder an investigation by the
investigator under this part.
(6) However, the delay may be only for so long as the investigator
continues to have the reasonable suspicion and remains in the
vicinity of the place at which the thing was seized to keep it
under observation.
62T Access to seized thing
(1) Until a seized thing is forfeited or returned, the investigator
who seized the thing must allow an owner of the thing—
(a) to inspect it at any reasonable time and from time to
time; and
(b) if it is a document—to copy it.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if it is impracticable or would
be unreasonable to allow the inspection or copying.
(3) The inspection or copying must be allowed free of charge.
62U Return of seized things
(1) If a seized thing is not forfeited, the investigator must return it
to its owner—
(a) at the end of 1 year; or
(b) if proceedings involving the thing are started within 1
year, at the end of the proceedings and any appeal from
the proceedings.
[s 62V]
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(2) Despite subsection (1), unless a thing that has been seized as
evidence is forfeited, the investigator must immediately return
it to its owner if the investigator stops being satisfied its
continued retention as evidence is necessary.
62V Forfeiture of seized things
(1) The board may decide a thing that has been seized under this
division is forfeited to the board if the board or an
investigator—
(a) after making reasonable inquiries, can not find an
owner; or
(b) after making reasonable efforts, can not return it to an
owner; or
(c) reasonably believes it is necessary to keep the thing to
prevent it being used to commit the offence for which it
was seized.
(2) However, for subsection (1)(a) and (b), the board or
investigator is not required to—
(a) make inquiries if it would be unreasonable to make
inquiries to find an owner; or
(b) make efforts if it would be unreasonable to make efforts
to return the thing to an owner.
Example for paragraph (b)—
The owner of the thing has migrated to another country.
(3) Regard must be had to the thing’s condition, nature and value
in deciding—
(a) whether it is reasonable to make inquiries or efforts; and
(b) if inquiries or efforts are made—what inquiries or
efforts, including the period over which they are made,
are reasonable.
[s 62W]
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62W Information notice about forfeiture decision
(1) If the board decides under section 62V(1) to forfeit a seized
thing, the board must as soon as practicable give a person who
owned the thing immediately before the forfeiture (the former
owner) an information notice about the decision.
(2) If the decision was made under section 62V(1)(a) or (b), the
information notice may be given by leaving it at the place
where the seized thing was seized, in a conspicuous position
and in a reasonably secure way.
(3) The information notice must state that the former owner may
apply for a stay of the decision if he or she applies to the
tribunal for a review of the decision.
(4) However, subsections (1) to (3) do not apply if—
(a) the decision was made under section 62V(1)(a) or (b);
and
(b) the place where the seized thing was seized is—
(i) a public place; or
(ii) a place where the notice is unlikely to be read by
the former owner.
62X When thing becomes property of the board
A thing becomes the property of the board if the thing is
forfeited to the board under section 62V.
62Y How property may be dealt with
(1) This section applies if, under section 62X, a thing becomes
the property of the board.
(2) The board may deal with the thing as the board considers
appropriate, including, for example, by destroying it or giving
it away.
(3) The board must not deal with the thing in a way that could
prejudice the outcome of an appeal against the forfeiture
under this part.
[s 63]
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(4) If the board sells the thing, the board must, after deducting the
costs of the sale, make reasonable efforts to return the
proceeds of the sale to the former owner of the thing.
Division 8 Notice of damage and
compensation
63 Notice of damage
(1) This section applies if the board or an investigator damages
property when exercising or purporting to exercise a power
under division 6 or 7.
(2) The board or investigator must immediately give notice of the
damage to the person who appears to the board or investigator
to be the owner of the property.
(3) The notice must state—
(a) the particulars of the damage; and
(b) that the person who suffered the damage may be entitled
to claim compensation under section 64.
(4) If the board or investigator believes the damage was caused by
a latent defect in the property or circumstances beyond the
board’s or investigator’s control, the board or investigator may
state the belief in the notice.
(5) This section does not apply to damage the board or
investigator reasonably believes is trivial.
(6) In subsection (2)—
owner, of property, includes the person in possession or
control of it.
64 Compensation
(1) This section applies if a person incurs loss or damage because
of the exercise or purported exercise of a power under
division 6 or 7.
[s 65]
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(2) The person is entitled to be paid the reasonable compensation
because of the loss or damage agreed between the board and
the person, or failing agreement, decided by a court.
(3) Compensation may be claimed and ordered to be paid in a
proceeding—
(a) brought in a court with jurisdiction for the recovery of
the amount of compensation claimed; or
(b) for an offence against this Act brought against the
person claiming compensation.
(4) A court may order compensation to be paid only if it is
satisfied it is fair to make the order in the circumstances of the
particular case.
Division 9 Offences about investigations
65 False or misleading statements
A person must not, in relation to an investigation under this
part, state anything to the board or an investigator that the
person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
66 False or misleading documents
(1) A person must not, in relation to an investigation under this
part, give the board or an investigator a document containing
information that the person knows is false or misleading in a
material particular.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who, when giving
the document—
(a) informs the board or investigator, to the best of the
person’s ability, how it is false or misleading; and
[s 67]
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(b) if the person has, or can reasonably obtain, the correct
information—gives the correct information to the board
or investigator.
67 Obstructing board or investigators
(1) A person must not obstruct the board in its exercise of a power
in the conduct of an investigation, or an investigator in the
exercise of a power, unless the person has a reasonable
excuse.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
(2) If a person has obstructed the board or an investigator as
mentioned in subsection (1) and the board or investigator
decides to proceed with the exercise of the power, the board or
investigator must warn the person that—
(a) it is an offence to obstruct the board or an investigator,
unless the person has a reasonable excuse; and
(b) the board or investigator considers the person’s conduct
is an obstruction.
(3) In this section—
obstruct includes hinder and attempt to obstruct or hinder.
68 Impersonation of investigators
A person must not pretend to be an investigator.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
[s 69AA]
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Part 4 Reports and board’s decisions
about investigations
69AA Application of pt 4 to certain former registered
professional engineers
For applying this part to a person mentioned in
section 36AA(1), the person is taken to be a registered
professional engineer.
69 Board’s report about investigation
(1) The board must, as soon as practicable after completing an
investigation, prepare a written report about the investigation.
(2) The report must include the board’s findings about the
investigation, including, if the investigation was the result of a
complaint, the board’s findings about the complaint.
70 Report about investigation being conducted
An investigator must, if asked by the board, give the board an
interim report about the conduct of an investigation being
conducted by the investigator.
71 Investigator’s report about investigation
(1) An investigator must, as soon as practicable after the
investigator considers an investigation being conducted by the
investigator is completed, give the board a written report
about the investigation.
(2) If the investigation was the result of a complaint, the report
must include the investigator’s findings about the complaint.
(3) If the board considers the report does not include enough
information to enable the board to make a decision under
section 73(2) or 75(2), the board may, by notice, ask the
investigator to give the board a further report about the
investigation.
[s 72]
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(4) The investigator must, as soon as practicable, comply with a
request under subsection (3).
72 Board may report to Minister
The board may, at any time, give the Minister a report about
an investigation conducted by the board or an investigator.
73 Board’s decision on investigation about registered
professional engineer
(1) This section applies if the board—
(a) prepares a report under section 69(1) about a registered
professional engineer; or
(b) receives a report under section 71(1) about a registered
professional engineer and does not request a further
report about the engineer under section 71(3); or
(c) receives a further report under section 71(3) about a
registered professional engineer.
(2) As soon as practicable after preparing the report, or receiving
the report or further report, the board must decide to do 1 or
more of the following—
(a) start a disciplinary proceeding against the registered
professional engineer;
Note—
For how to start a disciplinary proceeding, see part 8.
(b) enter into an undertaking agreed with the registered
professional engineer about a matter relating to the
engineer carrying out professional engineering services,
including, for example, to submit to an audit of the
engineer’s practice of engineering;
(c) caution or reprimand the registered professional
engineer;
(d) impose a condition on the engineer’s registration;
[s 74]
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(e) take no further action about the matter the subject of the
investigation.
(2A) If the engineer does not comply with an undertaking entered
into under subsection (2)(b), the board may decide to take
another action mentioned in subsection (2).
(3) In acting under subsection (2), the board must have regard to
the main objects of this Act and the disciplinary grounds.
(4) Also, regardless of what the board decides under
subsection (2)(a) to (d), the board may start proceedings to
prosecute the registered professional engineer for an offence.
(5) A decision to take action as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) to
(e) does not prevent the board taking the matter the subject of
the investigation into consideration at a later time as part of a
pattern of conduct or practice that may result in starting a
disciplinary proceeding against the registered professional
engineer.
74 Notice of result of investigation about registered
professional engineer
(1) As soon as practicable after making a decision under
section 73(2) or (4) about a registered professional engineer,
the board must give notice of the decision to—
(a) the registered professional engineer; and
(b) if the investigation was the result of a complaint—the
complainant.
(2) If the board decides, under section 73(2)(c), to caution or
reprimand the registered professional engineer, the board
must give the engineer an information notice for the decision.
(3) If the board decides, under section 73(2)(e), to take no further
action about the matter the subject of an investigation started
because of a complaint, the board must give the complainant
an information notice for the decision.
[s 74A]
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74A Publishing of certain decisions on investigation about
registered professional engineer
(1) This section applies if the board decides—
(a) to caution or reprimand a registered professional
engineer under section 73(2)(c); or
(b) to impose a condition on a registered professional
engineer’s registration under section 73(2)(d).
(2) The board may notify the decision, and reasons for the
decision, on the board’s website.
(3) The board must not act under subsection (2) until the
particulars of the decision are included in the register under
section 102.
75 Board’s decision about other investigations
(1) This section applies if the board—
(a) prepares a report under section 69(1) about a person
other than a registered professional engineer; or
(b) receives a report under section 71(1) about a person
other than a registered professional engineer and does
not request a further report about the person under
section 71(3); or
(c) receives a further report under section 71(3) about a
person other than a registered professional engineer.
(2) As soon as practicable after preparing the report, or receiving
the report or further report, the board must decide to do 1 or
more of the following—
(a) start proceedings to prosecute the person for an offence;
(b) enter into an undertaking agreed with the person about
the person’s conduct, including, for example, to apply
for registration or to only carry out professional
engineering services under the direct supervision of a
practising professional engineer;
(c) caution or reprimand the person;
[s 75A]
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(d) take no further action about the matter the subject of the
investigation.
(3) If the person does not comply with an undertaking entered
into under subsection (2)(b), the board may decide to take
another action mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) As soon as practicable after making the decision, the board
must give notice of the decision to the person.
(5) If the board decides, under subsection (2)(c), to caution or
reprimand the person, the board must give the person an
information notice for the decision.
75A Other investigations—recording decision if person
becomes registered professional engineer
(1) This section applies if—
(a) the board makes a decision about a person under
section 75; and
(b) the person later becomes a registered professional
engineer.
(2) The board may include in the register particulars of its
decision with other particulars relevant to the person’s
registration.
75B Publishing information if person other than registered
professional engineer found guilty of offence
(1) This section applies if a person other than a registered
professional engineer is found guilty of an offence against
part 7 of this Act, whether or not a conviction is recorded.
(2) The board may, during the relevant period, publish the
information about the offence on the board’s website.
(3) For subsection (2), only the following information may be
published—
(a) the person’s full name and any other identifying
particulars;
[s 76]
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(b) the person’s business address or former business
address;
(c) particulars of the offence committed by the person;
(d) any other particulars prescribed by regulation.
(4) If the finding of guilt is quashed on appeal, the board must
remove any reference to the offence from the website.
(5) In this section—
relevant period means the period starting on the date the
finding of guilt is made and ending 5 years after that date.
76 Board to take action as soon as practicable
As soon as practicable after deciding to take action under
section 73(2)(a) to (d), or (4), or section 75(2)(a) to (c), the
board must take the action.
Part 5 Board of Professional
Engineers of Queensland
Division 1 Establishment
77 Establishment of board
(1) The Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland is
established.
(2) The board—
(a) is a body corporate; and
(b) has perpetual succession; and
(c) has a common seal; and
(d) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
[s 78]
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78 Board’s relationship with the State
The board does not represent the State.
79 Board’s independence etc.
In performing its functions, the board is to act independently,
impartially and in the public interest.
Division 2 Functions and powers
80 Functions of board
(1) The functions of the board are as follows—
(a) to assess applications made to it under this Act;
(b) to register persons who are eligible for registration and
issue certificates of registration;
(c) to conduct, or authorise, investigations about the
professional conduct of registered professional
engineers and contraventions of this Act;
(d) to approve a program to audit registered professional
engineers under part 2B;
(e) to keep the register;
(f) to advise the Minister about—
(i) eligibility requirements for persons applying for
registration, or renewal or restoration of
registration; and
(ii) the suitability of assessment schemes for approval;
and
(iii) the operation of this Act in its application to the
practice of engineering;
(g) to review the eligibility requirements mentioned in
paragraph (f)(i);
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(h) to perform other functions given to the board under this
or another Act;
(i) to perform a function incidental to a function mentioned
in paragraphs (a) to (h).
(2) The board must, at least once every 2 years, review the
eligibility requirements mentioned in subsection (1)(f)(i).
81 Powers of board
(1) The board has all the powers of an individual, and may, for
example, do all or any of the following—
(a) enter into contracts;
(b) acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of, property;
(c) appoint and act through agents and attorneys;
(d) employ staff and engage consultants;
(e) do anything else necessary or convenient to be done for
the performance of its functions.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the board has the other
powers given to it under this Act.
Division 3 Membership
82 Membership of board
(1) The board consists of 7 members appointed by the Governor
in Council.
(2) The board must include—
(a) 1 person who—
(i) is the academic head or an academic representative
of a school of engineering prescribed under a
regulation; and
(ii) is a registered professional engineer, or as an
applicant would be eligible for registration; and
[s 83]
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(b) 1 person who—
(i) is a representative of the Queensland Division of
the Institution of Engineers Australia (the
institution); and
(ii) is a registered professional engineer, or as an
applicant would be eligible for registration; and
(c) 1 registered professional engineer elected under this
Act; and
(d) 1 registered professional engineer who lives, and
undertakes professional engineering services
predominantly, in regional Queensland; and
(e) 1 lawyer, of at least 10 years standing, with experience
in the law relating to building and construction; and
(f) 1 person who has at least 10 years experience as a
construction contractor in the building and construction
industry; and
(g) 1 person who is not a registered professional engineer.
(3) The members mentioned in subsection (2)(a), (b) and (d) to
(g) are to be nominated by the Minister.
(4) If a registered professional engineer is not elected under
subsection (2)(c), the Minister may nominate a registered
professional engineer for appointment to the board.
(5) A registered professional engineer nominated under
subsection (4) is taken to be elected under subsection (2)(c).
(6) The Minister must nominate a person for appointment under
subsection (2)(g) who the Minister reasonably believes will
represent community interests.
83 Chairperson and deputy chairperson
(1) The chairperson of the board is the member appointed by the
Governor in Council as the chairperson.
(2) The deputy chairperson of the board is the member appointed
by the Governor in Council as the deputy chairperson.
[s 84]
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(3) A person may be appointed as the chairperson or deputy
chairperson at the same time the person is appointed as a
member.
(4) The chairperson or deputy chairperson holds office for the
term decided by the Governor in Council, unless the person’s
term of office as a member ends sooner than the person’s term
of office as chairperson or deputy chairperson.
(5) A vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson or deputy
chairperson if the person holding the office resigns the office
by signed notice of resignation given to the Minister or stops
being a member.
(6) However, a person resigning the office of chairperson or
deputy chairperson may continue to be a member.
(7) The deputy chairperson is to act as chairperson—
(a) during a vacancy in the office of chairperson; and
(b) during all periods when the chairperson is absent from
duty or for another reason can not perform the functions
of the office.
84 Duration of appointment
(1) A member is to be appointed for the term, of not more than 3
years, stated in the member’s instrument of appointment.
(2) However, if at the end of a member’s term of appointment a
person has not been appointed to replace the member, the
member’s term does not end until the first of the following
events to happen—
(a) the end of 3 months after the member’s term would,
apart from this subsection, have ended;
(b) the member is reappointed;
(c) if the member is not reappointed—another person has
been appointed to replace the member.
[s 85]
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85 Conditions of appointment
(1) A member holds office—
(a) on a part-time basis; and
(b) on terms, not otherwise provided for in this Act, that are
decided by the Governor in Council.
(2) A member is entitled to be paid the remuneration and
allowances decided by the Governor in Council.
86 Termination of appointment
(1) The Governor in Council may remove a member from office
if—
(a) the member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of
the board without the board’s permission and without
reasonable excuse; or
(b) the Minister is satisfied the member—
(i) is incapable of performing the duties of a member
because of physical or mental incapacity, or
otherwise fails to perform the member’s duties; or
(ii) is performing the member’s duties carelessly,
incompetently or inefficiently; or
(iii) is affected by bankruptcy action; or
(iv) is an executive officer of a corporation affected by
control action after the commencement of this
section; or
(v) has a conviction, other than a spent conviction, for
an indictable offence or an offence against this Act;
or
(vi) commits misconduct of a kind that could justify
dismissal from the public service if the member
were a public service officer.
(2) In this section—
meeting means the following—
[s 87]
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(a) if the member does not attend—a meeting with a
quorum present;
(b) if the member attends—a meeting with or without a
quorum present.
87 Vacation of office
(1) The office of a member becomes vacant if the member—
(a) dies; or
(b) resigns office by written notice given to the Minister; or
(c) is removed from office under section 86.
(2) Also, the office of a member becomes vacant if the member
ceases to hold the office or qualification, if any, mentioned in
section 82(2) for the member.
(3) If a member resigns, the resignation takes effect on the day the
notice is given or, if a later day is stated in the notice, on the
later day.
88 Leave of absence for a member
(1) The Minister may approve a leave of absence for a member
(the absent member) of not more than 9 months.
(2) The Minister may appoint another person to act in the office
of the absent member while the member is absent on the
leave.
(3) A person appointed under subsection (2), must be—
(a) if the absent member is a person mentioned in
section 82(2)(a), (b), (e), (f) or (g)—a person who
belongs to the same category of persons, mentioned in
the section, to which the absent member belongs; or
(b) if the absent member is a person mentioned in
section 82(2)(c) or (d)—a registered professional
engineer.
[s 89]
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(4) The Minister’s power to appoint a person to act in the office of
an absent member does not limit the Governor in Council’s
powers under the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,
section 25(1)(b)(v).
89 Effect of vacancy in membership of board
(1) The performance of a function, or exercise of a power, by the
board is not affected merely because of a vacancy in the
membership of the board.
(2) Subsection (1) applies despite section 82(1).
90 Criminal history reports
(1) The chief executive may make inquiries about a person to help
decide whether the person—
(a) is suitable for appointment as a member of the board
under section 82(2); or
(b) is suitable to act in the office of a member under
section 88(2); or
(c) has a conviction for an offence mentioned in
section 86(1)(b)(v).
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the chief executive may ask
the police commissioner for—
(a) a report about the person’s criminal history; and
(b) a brief description of the nature of the offence giving
rise to a conviction mentioned in the person’s criminal
history.
(3) However, the chief executive may make a request under
subsection (2) about a person only if the person has given the
chief executive written consent for the request.
(4) The police commissioner must comply with the request.
(5) The duty imposed on the police commissioner applies only to
information in the commissioner’s possession or to which the
commissioner has access.
[s 91]
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Division 4 Business and meetings
91 Conduct of business
Subject to this division, the board may conduct its business,
including its meetings, in the way it considers appropriate.
92 Times and places of meetings
(1) Board meetings must be held at least once in every 2 months
at the times and places the chairperson decides.
(2) However, the chairperson must call a meeting if asked, in
writing, to do so by the Minister or at least 2 members.
93 Quorum
A quorum for a meeting of the board is 4 members.
94 Presiding at meetings
(1) The chairperson is to preside at all meetings of the board at
which the chairperson is present.
(2) If the chairperson is absent from a board meeting, but the
deputy chairperson is present, the deputy chairperson is to
preside.
(3) If the chairperson and deputy chairperson are both absent
from a board meeting—
(a) the member nominated by the chairperson is to preside;
or
(b) if the chairperson does not nominate a member under
paragraph (a)—the member nominated by the deputy
chairperson is to preside.
(4) If the offices of chairperson and deputy chairperson are
vacant, the member chosen by the members present is to
preside.
[s 95]
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95 Conduct of meetings
(1) A question at a board meeting is to be decided by a majority
of the votes of the members present and voting.
(2) Each member present at the meeting has a vote on each
question to be decided and, if the votes are equal, the member
presiding has a casting vote.
(3) A member present at the meeting who abstains from voting is
taken to have voted for the negative.
(4) The board may hold meetings, or allow members to take part
in its meetings, by using any technology that reasonably
allows members to hear and take part in discussions as they
happen.
Example of use of technology—
teleconferencing
(5) A member who takes part in a board meeting under
subsection (4) is taken to be present at the meeting.
(6) A resolution is validly made by the board, even if it is not
passed at a board meeting, if—
(a) a majority of the members gives written agreement to
the resolution; and
(b) notice of the resolution is given under procedures
approved by the board.
96 Minutes
(1) The board must keep minutes of its meetings.
(2) Each of the following must be recorded in the minutes—
(a) a decision made under section 73(2) or 75(2);
(b) a resolution made under section 95(6).
[s 97]
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Division 5 Disclosure of interests by board
members
97 Disclosure of interests
(1) This section applies to a board member if—
(a) the member has a direct or indirect interest in an issue
being considered, or about to be considered, by the
board; and
(b) the interest could conflict with the proper performance
of the member’s duties about the consideration of the
issue.
(2) As soon as practicable after the relevant facts come to the
member’s knowledge, the member must disclose the nature of
the interest to a meeting of the board.
(3) Unless the board otherwise directs, the member must not—
(a) be present when the board considers the issue; or
(b) take part in a decision of the board about the issue.
(4) The member must not be present when the board is
considering whether to give a direction under subsection (3).
(5) If there is another member who must, under subsection (2),
also disclose an interest in the issue, the other member must
not—
(a) be present when the board is considering whether to
give a direction under subsection (3); or
(b) take part in making the decision about giving the
direction.
(6) If—
(a) because of this section, a member is not present at a
board meeting for considering or deciding an issue, or
for considering or deciding whether to give a direction
under subsection (3); and
(b) there would be a quorum if the member were present;
[s 98]
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the remaining members present are a quorum of the board for
considering or deciding the issue, or for considering or
deciding whether to give the direction, at the meeting.
(7) A disclosure under subsection (2) must be recorded in the
board’s minutes.
(8) If the member is a registered professional engineer, the
member does not have a direct or indirect interest in an issue
if the interest arises merely because the member is a registered
professional engineer.
Division 6 Directions by Minister and
performance agreements
98 Ministerial direction
(1) The Minister may give the board a written direction about the
performance of the board’s functions or exercise of its powers
if satisfied it is necessary to give the direction in the public
interest.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the direction may be to—
(a) give reports and information; or
(b) apply to the board a policy, standard or other instrument
applying to a public sector unit.
(3) The direction can not be about—
(a) the registering of, or refusal to register, an applicant for
registration; or
(b) the renewing of, or refusal to renew, a registration; or
(c) the restoring of, or refusal to restore, a registration; or
(d) the cancelling of a registration.
(4) Despite section 79, the board must comply with the direction.
(5) However, before giving the direction the Minister must
consult with the board.
[s 99]
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(6) The Minister must publish a copy of the direction in the
gazette within 21 days after the direction is given.
99 Performance agreement
(1) The board must enter into an agreement with the Minister (a
performance agreement) within 1 month after the end of each
financial year.
(2) The performance agreement must identify the board’s
strategic direction for the current financial year and the 2
following financial years.
(3) The agreement may include other matters relevant to the
board’s functions and agreed to by the Minister and the board.
Division 7 Registrar of board and other staff
100 Appointment and function of registrar
(1) There is a registrar of the board.
(2) The registrar is to be appointed to the office under the Public
Sector Act 2022.
(3) The registrar is responsible for managing the board’s
administrative affairs.
100A Other staff
With the board’s consent, other public service employees may
be engaged by a public sector unit to provide services for the
board.
101 Board to reimburse cost of registrar’s or other staff’s
services
The board must reimburse the public sector unit in which the
registrar or a public service employee is employed the
[s 101A]
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reasonable costs of the services provided by the registrar or
public service employee for the board.
101A Delegation by registrar
(1) The registrar may delegate the registrar’s functions under this
Act to—
(a) an appropriately qualified employee of the board; or
(b) an appropriately qualified public service employee
providing services for the board under section 100A.
(2) In this section—
functions includes powers.
Division 8 Register
102 Keeping register
(1) The board must keep a register of persons who are, or have
been, registered professional engineers.
(2) The register may be kept in the way the board considers
appropriate, including, for example, in an electronic form.
(3) The register must contain all the following particulars for each
person—
(a) the person’s name and contact details;
(b) details of the person’s eligibility for registration as a
registered professional engineer;
(c) if the tribunal makes an order about the person under
section 131(2) or (3) or section 132(2)(b)—details of the
order, other than any details identified in the order as
details that are not to be included in the register;
(d) if the tribunal conducts a disciplinary proceeding in
relation to the person because of the person’s conviction
for an offence against this Act—the fact of the
conviction;
[s 102]
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(e) if the person’s registration is subject to a
condition—particulars of the condition;
(f) if the board cautions or reprimands the person under
section 73(2)(c)—particulars of the caution or
reprimand;
(g) if the person’s registration is cancelled under
section 29(4)—the day the registration is cancelled and
the reasons for the cancellation;
(h) if the person’s registration is not renewed under
section 20—the reasons for not renewing the
registration;
(i) if the person’s registration is not restored under
section 24—the reasons for not restoring the
registration;
(j) whether the person is registered as a practising
professional engineer or non-practising professional
engineer;
(k) other particulars relevant to the person’s registration and
prescribed under a regulation.
(4) If an order mentioned in subsection (3)(c) states a period in
which details of the order may be included in the register, the
details may be included in the register only for the stated
period.
(5) The particulars mentioned in subsection (3)(e) to (i) for a
relevant decision of the board must not be included in the
register until—
(a) the period in which the person may apply to the tribunal
for a review of the decision has ended; or
(b) if the person has applied to the tribunal for a review of
the decision—the review, and any appeal from the
tribunal’s decision on the review, has been decided or is
otherwise ended.
(6) However, if a person applies to the tribunal for a review of a
relevant decision of the board, the particulars mentioned in
[s 103]
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subsection (3)(e) to (i) for the decision may only be included
in the register if—
(a) the review, and any appeal from the tribunal’s decision
on the review, is decided or otherwise ended; and
(b) the result of the decision on the review and any appeal
from the decision, or the ending of the review or appeal,
is that the person’s registration remains cancelled or
may not be renewed or restored.
(7) In this section—
relevant decision, of the board, means a decision of the board
to—
(a) impose a condition on a person’s registration; or
(b) caution or reprimand a person; or
(c) cancel, or refuse to renew or restore, a person’s
registration.
103 Inspection of register
(1) The board must—
(a) keep the register open for inspection, free of charge, at
the board’s office by members of the public when the
office is open to the public; and
(b) give a person a copy of the register, or a part of it, on
payment of the fee prescribed under a regulation.
(2) Also, the board must make the register available for inspection
on its website.
Division 9 Other provisions about the board
104 Application of other Acts
(1) The board is a statutory body within the meaning of the—
(a) Financial Accountability Act 2009; and
[s 106]
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(b) Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982.
(2) The Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982,
part 2B, sets out the way in which the board’s powers under
this Act are affected by the Statutory Bodies Financial
Arrangements Act 1982.
106 Board to reimburse tribunal costs
(1) The board must reimburse the department the tribunal costs
paid by the department to the tribunal department.
(2) In this section—
tribunal costs means the reasonable costs of the tribunal
incurred in conducting—
(a) proceedings for reviews of decisions mentioned in
section 122(2); or
(b) disciplinary proceedings.
tribunal department means the department in which the
QCAT Act is administered.
107 Matters to be included in annual report
The board’s annual report under the Financial Accountability
Act 2009 for a financial year must include each of the
following—
(a) a copy of all ministerial directions given to the board
under section 98(1) during the year;
(b) details about action taken by the board to comply with
each direction mentioned in paragraph (a);
(c) information about whether the board’s activities during
the year were consistent with its performance
agreement;
(d) details about disciplinary proceedings, or proceedings
for a contravention of the Act, started by the board;
[s 107A]
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(e) details of the results of reviews, under part 8, division 2,
of decisions.
107A Delegation
(1) The board may delegate the board’s functions under this Act
to any of the following—
(a) a board member;
(b) a committee of board members;
(c) the registrar;
(d) an appropriately qualified employee of the board;
(e) an appropriately qualified public service employee
providing services for the board under section 100A.
(2) In this section—
functions includes powers.
Part 6 Codes of practice
108 Board to make code of practice
(1) The board must, within 9 months after the commencement of
this part, make a code of practice to provide guidance to
registered professional engineers as to appropriate
professional conduct or practice.
(2) In developing or amending a code of practice, the board must
consult with—
(a) professional associations in the State that the board
considers represent the interests of registered
professional engineers; and
(b) universities that—
(i) are established in Queensland; and
(ii) are engaged in the education of students in the
profession of engineering; and
[s 109]
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(c) any other entity the Minister directs the board to consult
with.
(3) A code of practice, or an amendment of a code of practice, has
no effect until it is approved under a regulation.
(4) The board may make a code of practice by adopting another
entity’s code of practice with or without changes.
(5) The board must review its code of practice at least once every
3 years.
(6) The board’s code of practice is a statutory instrument within
the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992.
109 Tabling of code
(1) This section applies if, under section 108(3), a code of
practice, or amendment of a code of practice, has been
approved under a regulation.
(2) The Minister must, within 14 sitting days after the regulation
is notified, table a copy of the code, or amendment or
amended code, in the Legislative Assembly.
(3) A failure to comply with subsection (2) does not invalidate or
otherwise affect the code or the regulation.
110 Inspection of code
(1) The board must—
(a) keep copies of the code of practice, as in force from time
to time, available for inspection, free of charge, at the
board’s office by members of the public when the office
is open to the public; and
(b) give a person a copy of the code, or a part of it, on
payment of the fee prescribed under a regulation.
(2) Also, the board must make the code of practice available for
inspection on its website.
[s 111]
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111 Notice of approval or amendment of code
The board must notify registered professional engineers of the
approval of a code of practice and any amendment of the
code.
112 Use of code of practice in disciplinary proceeding
(1) An approved code of practice is admissible as evidence in a
disciplinary proceeding brought by the board against a
registered professional engineer.
(2) The code may only be used to provide evidence, in the
disciplinary proceeding, of appropriate professional conduct
or practice for a registered professional engineer.
Part 6A Assessment entities and
schemes
Division 1 Preliminary
112A Definitions for pt 6A
In this part—
application for approval means an application for approval of
a proposed assessment scheme under section 112C.
application for renewal means an application for renewal of
the approval of an assessment scheme under section 112D.
application for variation means an application for variation
of an assessment scheme under section 112E.
suitable for approval see section 112B.
[s 112B]
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Division 2 Suitability of assessment schemes
112B Suitability of assessment schemes for approval
A proposed assessment scheme is, and an assessment scheme
continues to be, suitable for approval under this part if—
(a) the scheme adequately provides for the assessment of
qualifications and competencies of engineers in an
identifiable area of engineering; and
(b) the scheme is consistent with national and international
standards for the recognition of professional engineers;
and
(c) the scheme includes procedures for the assessment of
applicants under part 2 that are conducted in an
independent and professional manner; and
(d) the entity conducting the scheme has adequate
procedures for monitoring and improving the
assessment process carried out under the scheme; and
(e) the fees imposed under the scheme for the assessment of
qualifications and competencies are reasonable having
regard to the scope of the services being offered; and
(f) the scheme includes adequate continuing professional
development requirements for professional engineers
and an effective audit program to ensure continuing
registration requirements are met; and
(g) the entity conducting the scheme employs competent
persons to perform assessments of applicants under
part 2 and has proven procedures for training and
accrediting those persons who will perform the
assessments; and
(h) the entity conducting the scheme has the financial
capacity and facilities to conduct assessments of
qualifications and competencies; and
[s 112C]
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(i) the entity conducting the scheme has a proven capacity
to undertake independent and authoritative assessments
in a timely manner; and
(j) the scheme or entity conducting the scheme satisfies
other criteria provided for under a regulation.
Division 3 Applications relating to assessment
schemes
112C Application for approval
(1) An entity may apply to the Minister for approval of a
proposed assessment scheme for 1 or more areas of
engineering, or proposed areas of engineering, to be
conducted by the entity.
(2) The application must—
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) be supported by enough information to enable the
Minister to decide the application; and
(c) be accompanied by—
(i) the proposed assessment scheme; and
(ii) the fee, if any, prescribed under a regulation.
112D Application for renewal
(1) The assessment entity for an assessment scheme may apply to
the Minister for renewal of the approval of the assessment
scheme.
(2) The application must—
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) be supported by enough information to enable the
Minister to decide the application; and
(c) be made at least 28 days before the approval ends; and
[s 112E]
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(d) be accompanied by the fee, if any, prescribed under a
regulation.
112E Application for variation
(1) The assessment entity for an assessment scheme may apply to
the Minister for variation of the assessment scheme.
(2) The application must—
(a) be in the approved form; and
(b) be supported by enough information to enable the
Minister to decide the application; and
(c) be accompanied by—
(i) the proposed variation of the assessment scheme;
and
(ii) the fee, if any, prescribed under a regulation.
Division 4 Referral of applications under this
part to the board
112F Minister to refer an application under this part to the
board for assessment
After receiving an application under this part the Minister
must refer the application to the board for assessment.
112G Consideration by board
(1) The board must consider—
(a) for an application for approval—whether the applicant’s
proposed assessment scheme is suitable for approval; or
(b) for an application for renewal—whether the applicant’s
assessment scheme continues to be suitable for
approval; or
[s 112H]
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(c) for an application for variation—whether the applicant’s
assessment scheme as proposed to be varied is suitable
for approval.
(2) In its consideration, the board is not restricted to the
information contained in the application.
112H Further information or document to support application
(1) The board may, by notice given to the applicant, require the
applicant to give the board, within a reasonable time of at least
14 days stated in the notice, further information or a document
the board reasonably requires to make its recommendation on
the application.
(2) The board and the applicant may agree on an extension of the
time stated in the notice.
(3) The applicant is taken to have withdrawn its application if
within the following time the applicant does not comply with
the requirement—
(a) the time stated in the notice;
(b) if the board and the applicant have agreed on an
extension of time—the time agreed to.
112I Report by board about application
(1) The board must give the Minister a written report about the
application.
(2) The report must contain—
(a) the board’s recommendation about whether the Minister
should grant the application; and
(b) if the board recommends that the Minister grant the
application—any recommendation by the board that the
Minister impose a condition on the approval.
(3) In this section—
recommendation includes reasons for the recommendation.
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Division 5 Decision of Minister
112J Decision on application
(1) The Minister must consider the application and decide to
either grant, or refuse to grant, the application.
(2) When considering the application, the Minister must have
regard to the board’s report on the application but is not bound
by any recommendation contained in the report.
(3) The Minister may grant the application only if the Minister is
satisfied that—
(a) for an application for approval—the proposed
assessment scheme is suitable for approval; or
(b) for an application for renewal—the assessment scheme
continues to be suitable for approval; or
(c) for an application for variation—the assessment scheme
as proposed to be varied is suitable for approval.
(4) The Minister may, in granting the application, decide to
impose conditions on the approval that are reasonable and
relevant.
112K Grant of application
If the Minister decides to grant the application without
conditions, the Minister must as soon as practicable give the
applicant notice of the decision.
112L Grant of application with conditions
(1) If the Minister proposes to grant the application with
conditions, the Minister must give the applicant a notice
stating the following—
(a) the Minister proposes to grant the application with
conditions (the proposed decision);
(b) the proposed conditions;
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(c) the reasons for the proposed decision;
(d) that the applicant may make, within 28 days of receiving
the notice, written representations to the Minister about
the proposed decision.
(2) The Minister must consider all written representations about
the proposed decision (the accepted representations) made by
the applicant within 28 days of receiving the notice under
subsection (1).
(3) After considering the accepted representations, or if there are
no accepted representations, the Minister must decide to grant
the application with, or without, conditions.
(4) The Minister may impose any conditions under subsection (3)
that are reasonable and relevant.
(5) The Minister must, as soon as practicable after making a
decision under subsection (3), give the applicant—
(a) for a decision to grant the application without
conditions—notice of the decision; or
(b) for a decision to grant the application with
conditions—notice of the decision and reasons for the
decision.
112M Refusal of application
(1) If the Minister proposes to refuse to grant the application, the
Minister must give the applicant a notice stating the
following—
(a) the Minister proposes to refuse to grant the application
(the proposed decision);
(b) the reasons for the proposed decision;
(c) that the applicant may make, within 28 days of receiving
the notice, written representations to the Minister about
the proposed decision.
(2) The Minister must consider all written representations about
the proposed decision (the accepted representations) made by
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the applicant within 28 days of receiving the notice under
subsection (1).
(3) After considering the accepted representations, or if there are
no accepted representations, the Minister must decide—
(a) to grant the application, with or without conditions; or
(b) to refuse to grant the application.
(4) As soon as practicable after deciding under subsection (3), the
Minister must give the applicant—
(a) for a decision to grant the application without
conditions—notice of the decision; or
(b) for a decision to grant the application with conditions or
to refuse to grant the application—notice of the decision
and reasons for the decision.
(5) To remove any doubt, it is declared that section 112L does not
apply in relation to conditions imposed under this section.
Division 6 Term of approval
112N Term of approval
(1) Unless sooner cancelled, suspended or otherwise ended, an
approval under this part remains in force for the term decided
by the Minister when granting an application for approval or
renewal.
(2) A term under subsection (1) must not be more than 5 years.
(3) A variation of an approval under this part does not extend the
term of the approval.
112O Approval continues pending decision about renewal
(1) If an assessment entity applies for renewal of approval of an
assessment scheme under section 112D, the approval of the
assessment scheme is taken to continue in force from the day
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it would, apart from this subsection, have ended until the day
on which any of the following first happens—
(a) the Minister renews the approval;
(b) if the Minister decides to refuse to grant the renewal, the
Minister gives the assessment entity notice of the
decision;
(c) the assessment entity is taken to have withdrawn the
application under section 112H(3).
(2) If the Minister renews the approval, the approval is taken to
have been renewed from the day it would, apart from
subsection (1), have ended.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the approval of the
assessment scheme is earlier cancelled or suspended.
Division 7 Cancellation, suspension and
surrender of approval
112P Grounds for cancellation and suspension
Each of the following is a ground for cancelling or suspending
the approval of an assessment scheme—
(a) the assessment scheme stops being suitable for
approval;
(b) the assessment entity for the scheme has intentionally or
recklessly assessed an applicant for registration under
section 8 as having the qualifications and competencies
provided for under the scheme and the applicant does
not have those qualifications or competencies;
(c) the approval was granted because of a materially false or
misleading representation or declaration;
(d) the assessment entity for the scheme has contravened a
condition of the approval;
(e) the assessment entity for the scheme has contravened a
provision of this Act.
[s 112Q]
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112Q Show cause notice
(1) This section applies if—
(a) the Minister believes a ground exists to cancel or
suspend the approval of an assessment scheme; and
(b) the Minister proposes to cancel or suspend the approval
(the proposed action).
(2) The Minister must give the assessment entity for the
assessment scheme a notice (a show cause notice) stating the
following—
(a) the proposed action;
(b) if proposing to suspend an approval—the period of the
proposed suspension;
(c) the grounds for the cancellation or suspension;
(d) an outline of the facts and circumstances forming the
basis for the grounds;
(e) that the assessment entity may make, within a stated
period (the show cause period), written representations
explaining why the approval should not be cancelled or
suspended.
(3) The show cause period must be a period ending at least 21
days after the show cause notice is given to the assessment
entity.
112R Consideration of representations
The Minister must consider all written representations (the
accepted representations) made in the show cause period by
the assessment entity.
112S Ending show cause process without further action
If, after considering the accepted representations for the show
cause notice, the Minister no longer believes the ground exists
to take the proposed action, the Minister—
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(a) must not take further action about the show cause
notice; and
(b) must, as soon as practicable, give notice to the
assessment entity that no further action is to be taken
about the show cause notice.
112T Cancellation or suspension of approval
(1) This section applies if, after considering the accepted
representations for the show cause notice, the Minister—
(a) still believes the ground exists to cancel or suspend the
approval; and
(b) believes cancellation or suspension is warranted.
(2) This section also applies if there are no accepted
representations for the show cause notice.
(3) The Minister may—
(a) if the proposed action was to cancel the
approval—cancel the approval or suspend it for a
period; or
(b) if the proposed action was to suspend the approval for a
period—suspend the approval for not longer than that
period.
(4) If the Minister decides to cancel or suspend the approval of
the assessment scheme, the Minister must give the assessment
entity notice of the decision and the reasons for the decision.
(5) The decision takes effect—
(a) on the day the notice is given to the assessment entity; or
(b) if a later day is stated in the notice—on the later day.
112U Voluntary surrender of approval
(1) The assessment entity for an assessment scheme may
surrender the approval for the scheme by notice given to the
Minister.
[s 112V]
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(2) The surrender of the approval takes effect—
(a) 90 days after the day the notice is given to the Minister;
or
(b) if a later day is stated in the notice, on the later day.
Division 8 Record of assessment entities
112V Record of assessment entities
(1) The board must keep a record stating each of the following—
(a) the name of each assessment entity;
(b) the contact details for the entity;
(c) the areas of engineering for which the entity conducts an
assessment scheme.
(2) The board must—
(a) publish the record on the board’s website; and
(b) keep the record available for inspection, without charge,
at the board’s office when the office is open to the
public; and
(c) if asked by a person and on payment of the fee, if any,
prescribed under a regulation, give the person a copy of
all or part of the record.
Part 7 Other offence provisions
113 Claims about being a registered professional engineer
(1) A person who is not a registered professional engineer must
not—
(a) claim, or hold himself or herself out, to be a registered
professional engineer; or
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(b) allow himself or herself to be held out as a registered
professional engineer.
Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.
(2) A person must not hold out another person as a registered
professional engineer if the person knows or ought reasonably
to know the other person is not a registered professional
engineer.
Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.
114 Using titles or names
A person who is not a registered professional engineer must
not use—
(a) the titles ‘registered professional engineer’, ‘registered
professional engineer of Queensland’ or ‘RPEQ’; or
(b) another title or name, prescribed under a regulation, that
in the context in which the title or name is used suggests
that the person is a registered professional engineer.
Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.
115 Who may carry out professional engineering services
(1) A person who is not a practising professional engineer must
not carry out professional engineering services.
Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.
(2) However, a person does not commit an offence under
subsection (1) if the person carries out the professional
engineering services under the direct supervision of a
practising professional engineer who is responsible for the
services.
(3) A person who is a practising professional engineer must not
carry out professional engineering services in an area of
engineering other than an area of engineering for which the
person is registered under this Act.
Maximum penalty—1000 penalty units.
[s 122]
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(4) However, a person does not commit an offence under
subsection (3) if the person carries out the professional
engineering services under the direct supervision of a
practising professional engineer who is registered in the area
of engineering and responsible for the services.
(5) For this section, a person carries out professional engineering
services under the direct supervision of a practising
professional engineer only if the engineer directs the person in
the carrying out of the services and oversees and evaluates the
carrying out of the services by the person.
Note—
See also section 6A in relation to the potential application of this
section outside Queensland.
Part 8 Reviews and disciplinary
proceedings
Division 1 Reviews
122 Review of particular decisions
(1) The tribunal may, on application by a person mentioned in
subsection (2), review the decision of the board stated in the
subsection for the person.
(2) Each of the following persons may apply, as provided under
the QCAT Act, to the tribunal to review the decision
mentioned for the person—
(a) a person whose application for registration, or renewal
or restoration of registration, is refused;
(b) a person whose application for renewal or restoration of
registration is not accepted by the board under
section 18(4) or 23(3);
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(c) a person whose registration is subject to conditions
imposed by the board under section 13(2), 21(2), 25(2)
or 27A(1);
(d) a person whose registration is cancelled under
section 29(4);
(e) a person whose registration is immediately suspended
under section 29A(2);
(f) a person who is required to undergo a health assessment
under section 35E(2);
(g) a person who has been given, or is entitled to be given,
an information notice about a decision to forfeit a seized
thing under section 62W;
(h) a person who, under section 73(2)(c) or 75(2)(c), has
been cautioned or reprimanded;
(i) a person whose registration is subject to a condition
imposed under section 73(2)(d);
(j) a person who makes a complaint if the board decides,
under section 73(2)(e), to take no further action about
the complaint.
126 Information about review
(1) The board must keep available for inspection, at the board’s
office by members of the public, information about how a
person may apply to the tribunal for a review of a decision
mentioned in section 122(2).
(2) The board must publish on the board’s website the
information mentioned in subsection (1).
[s 127]
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Division 2 Disciplinary proceedings
127 Tribunal may conduct disciplinary proceeding
The tribunal may, on application by the board, conduct a
proceeding (a disciplinary proceeding) to decide whether a
disciplinary ground is established.
129 Tribunal to have regard to code of practice
If the tribunal is making a decision about whether a registered
professional engineer or former registered professional
engineer has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory
professional conduct or practice, the tribunal must have regard
to the approved code of practice.
130 Continuation of particular proceeding
(1) This section applies if, after a disciplinary proceeding is
started against a person, the person ceases to be a registered
professional engineer.
(2) The proceeding may continue under this part.
131 Orders relating to registered professional engineer
(1) If the tribunal decides that a disciplinary ground is
established, the tribunal may—
(a) make 1 or more of the orders mentioned in
subsections (2) to (4); or
(b) take no action against the registered professional
engineer.
(2) The tribunal may order the registered professional engineer to
pay a stated amount of not more than the equivalent of 200
penalty units.
(3) Also, the tribunal may make an order—
(a) reprimanding the registered professional engineer; or
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(b) imposing a condition on the registered professional
engineer’s registration including, for example, to submit
to an audit of the engineer’s practice of engineering; or
(c) suspending the registered professional engineer’s
registration for a stated period; or
(d) cancelling the registered professional engineer’s
registration; or
(e) disqualifying, indefinitely or for a stated period, the
registered professional engineer from obtaining
registration as a registered professional engineer; or
(f) requiring the registered professional engineer to pay an
amount to the board as compensation for all, or a part of,
the reasonable costs of any investigation about the
matter the subject of the proceeding, including the costs
of preparing for the proceeding.
(4) An order for payment of an amount under subsection (2) or
(3)(f) may direct that, if the registered professional engineer
does not pay the amount within the period stated in the order,
the registered professional engineer’s registration be
suspended until the amount is paid.
(5) If the registered professional engineer does not pay the
amount within the stated period, the registration is suspended
until the earlier of the following—
(a) the day the amount is paid;
(b) the day the registration expires.
(6) The suspension under subsection (5) takes effect immediately
after the end of the stated period.
(7) Subsection (3)(f) does not limit the powers of the tribunal
under the QCAT Act, chapter 2, part 6, division 6.
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132 Orders relating to former registered professional
engineer
(1) This section applies if the tribunal decides that a disciplinary
ground is established against a person who is not a registered
professional engineer at the time of the tribunal’s decision.
(2) The tribunal may decide—
(a) to take no action against the person; or
(b) to do 1 or more of the following—
(i) order the person to pay a stated amount of not
more than the equivalent of 200 penalty units;
(ii) make an order reprimanding the person;
(iii) make an order disqualifying, indefinitely or for a
stated period, the person from obtaining
registration as a registered professional engineer.
133 Effect of particular orders
(1) An order under section 131(2) or 132(2)(b)(i) must order that
the amount be paid to the board.
(2) If the tribunal makes an order under section 131(3)(e) or
132(2)(b)(iii) about a person, the board must not—
(a) if the disqualification is indefinite—re-register the
person; or
(b) if the disqualification is for a stated period—re-register
the person during the period stated in the order.
134 Recording details of orders
If the tribunal makes an order about a person under
section 131(2) or (3) or section 132(2)(b), the order may
state—
(a) the period in which the details of the order are to be
included in the register for the person; and
[s 135]
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(b) the particular details of the order, if any, that the tribunal
decides are not to be included in the register.
Part 9 Legal proceedings
Division 1 Evidence
135 Application of div 1
This division applies to a proceeding for an offence against
this Act or a disciplinary proceeding.
136 Appointments and authority
The following must be presumed unless a party to the
proceeding, by reasonable notice, requires proof of it—
(a) the appointment of—
(i) the chairperson or another board member; or
(ii) the registrar; or
(iii) an investigator;
(b) the authority of the board or a person mentioned in
paragraph (a) to do anything under this Act.
137 Signatures
A signature purporting to be the signature of the chairperson,
a member or an investigator, is evidence of the signature it
purports to be.
138 Evidentiary matters
A certificate purporting to be signed by the registrar and
stating any of the following matters is evidence of the
matter—
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(a) a stated document is 1 of the following things made,
given, issued or kept under this Act—
(i) an appointment;
(ii) an order, direction, requirement, notice or decision;
(iii) a certificate of registration;
(iv) the board’s minutes or an extract from the board’s
minutes;
(v) another record or an extract from another record;
(vi) the register or an extract from the register;
(b) a stated document is an approved code of practice;
(c) a stated document is another document kept under this
Act;
(d) a stated document is a copy of a thing mentioned in
paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
(e) on a stated day, or during a stated period, a stated person
was or was not registered under this Act;
(f) on a stated day, a registration or approval was cancelled;
(g) on a stated day, or during a stated period, a registration
or approval was suspended;
(h) on a stated day, or during a stated period, an
appointment as an investigator was, or was not, in force
for a stated person;
(i) on a stated day—
(i) a stated person was given a stated notice or
direction under this Act; or
(ii) a stated requirement under this Act was made of a
stated person;
(j) a stated fee or other amount is payable by a stated
person to the board and has not been paid.
[s 139]
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Division 2 Offence proceedings
139 Proceedings for offences
(1) A proceeding for an offence against this Act is to be heard and
decided summarily.
(2) The proceeding must start—
(a) within 1 year after the commission of the offence; or
(b) within 1 year after the offence comes to the
complainant’s knowledge, but within 2 years after the
commission of the offence.
140 False or misleading information or statements
In a proceeding for an offence against this Act defined as
involving false or misleading information, or a false or
misleading statement, it is enough for a charge to state that the
information or statement was, without specifying which,
‘false or misleading’.
140A Costs of investigation
(1) This section applies if a court finds a person guilty of an
offence against this Act.
(2) The court may make an order requiring the person to pay an
amount to the board as compensation for all, or a part of, the
reasonable costs of any investigation by the board about the
offence, including the costs of preparing for the prosecution.
(3) This section does not limit the orders for costs the court may
make on the finding of guilt.
[s 141]
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Part 10 Other matters
141 Performance and carrying out of professional
engineering services by particular entities
(1) This section applies to—
(a) a person who is not a practising professional engineer if
the person, in performing, or undertaking to perform,
professional engineering services for someone (the
client)—
(i) claims, or holds himself or herself out, to be a
practising professional engineer; or
(ii) allows himself or herself to be held out as a
practising professional engineer; or
(b) another person if—
(i) the person, in providing, or undertaking to provide,
professional engineering services for someone
(also the client) claims, or holds out, that the
services are carried out, or to be carried out, by or
under the supervision of a practising professional
engineer; and
(ii) the services are not carried out by or under the
direct supervision of a practising professional
engineer who is responsible for the services.
(2) Despite any agreement between the person and the client, the
person is not entitled to any monetary or other consideration
for the performance or carrying out of the professional
engineering services.
(3) For this section a person carries out professional engineering
services under the direct supervision of a practising
professional engineer only if the engineer directs the person in
the carrying out the services and oversees and evaluates the
carrying out of the services by the person.
[s 142]
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142 Protection from liability
(1) This section applies to each of the following persons (a
relevant person)—
(a) the Minister;
(b) a board member;
(c) an investigator;
(d) a person engaged, under section 45, to assist the board
or an investigator;
(e) an employee of the board.
(2) A relevant person is not civilly liable to someone for an act
done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence
under this Act.
(3) If subsection (2) prevents a civil liability attaching to a
relevant person mentioned in subsection (1)(a), the liability
attaches instead to the State.
(4) If subsection (2) prevents a civil liability attaching to a
relevant person mentioned in subsection (1)(b), (c), (d) or (e),
the liability attaches instead to the board.
142A Appropriation of penalties
(1) A monetary penalty recovered for an offence against this Act
must be paid to the board.
(2) This section applies despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,
section 43.
142B Statutory declarations to verify information required
under the Act
(1) This section applies if a person is required under this Act to
give information to the board.
(2) The board may ask the person to verify the information by
statutory declaration.
[s 143]
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(3) If the person gives the information to the board but does not
comply with a request under subsection (2), the person is
taken to have not given the information to the board.
143 Approval of forms
The chief executive may approve forms for use under this Act.
144 Regulation-making power
(1) The Governor in Council may make regulations under this
Act.
(2) A regulation may be made about the following—
(a) fees, including the refunding of fees, payable under this
Act;
(b) the procedures for electing a member of the board;
(c) imposing a penalty of no more than 20 penalty units for
contravention of a regulation.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2)(a), a regulation may prescribe
amounts as fees having regard to the costs of the board
performing its functions under, or complying with, this Act or
another Act.
(4) Also, without limiting section 10(1)(a), a regulation may
provide for a qualification under that paragraph by reference
to subjects or areas of learning relating to engineering.
[s 145]
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Part 11 Repeal, transitional and
validating provisions
Division 1 Repeal
145 Repeal of Professional Engineers Act 1988
The Professional Engineers Act 1988 (1988 Act No. 72) is
repealed.
Division 2 Transitional provisions for Act No.
54 of 2002
Subdivision 1 Preliminary
146 Definitions for div 2
commencement means the commencement of the provision in
which the term is used.
disciplinary panel means the Professional Engineers
Disciplinary Panel established under the repealed Act.
former board means the Board of Professional Engineers of
Queensland established under the repealed Act.
registered professional engineering company means an
entity that, immediately before the commencement, is
registered as a registered professional engineering company
under part 5 of the repealed Act.
registered professional engineering unit means an entity
that, immediately before the commencement, is registered as a
registered professional engineering unit under part 6 of the
repealed Act.
[s 147]
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Subdivision 2 Transitional references
147 References to repealed Act
A reference in an Act or document to the repealed Act may, if
the context permits, be taken as a reference to this Act.
148 References to former board
A reference in an Act or document to the former board may, if
the context permits, be taken as a reference to the board.
Subdivision 3 Other transitional provisions
149 Dissolution of former board
(1) On the commencement—
(a) the former board is dissolved; and
(b) the members of the board go out of office.
(2) No compensation is payable to a member because of
subsection (1).
150 Particular members of former board continue in office
(1) This section applies to a person who is a member of the
former board immediately before the commencement if the
person’s term of appointment as a member would, other than
for this section, have ended before the commencement of
section 149 of this Act.
(2) Despite section 12 of the repealed Act, the person continues
as a member of the former board until it is dissolved under
section 149 of this Act.
[s 151]
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151 First appointment of particular member
(1) For the purpose of the first appointment of a member of the
board under section 82(2)(c), the Governor in Council may
appoint any person holding office under section 7 of the
repealed Act before the commencement.
(2) A person appointed under subsection (1)—
(a) is taken to be properly appointed under section 82; and
(b) holds office until—
(i) the end of 18 months after the commencement; or
(ii) if the person, or another person, is earlier elected
under section 82(2)(c)—the day the person or
other person is elected.
152 Employees of former board
(1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before the
commencement, was an employee of the former board.
(2) On the commencement, the person becomes an employee of
the board.
(3) The person—
(a) must be employed on terms and conditions at least
equivalent to the person’s terms and conditions of
employment immediately before the commencement;
and
(b) remains entitled to all rights of employment existing or
accruing immediately before the commencement.
153 Vesting of former board’s assets, rights and liabilities
On the commencement, the assets, rights and liabilities of the
former board vest in the board.
154 Vesting of former board’s pending legal proceedings
(1) This section applies to a legal proceeding that—
[s 155]
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(a) was taken by or against a following person before the
commencement—
(i) the former board;
(ii) a member of the former board in the person’s
capacity as a member of the former board; and
(b) has not been finished before the commencement.
(2) From the commencement, the proceeding may be continued
and finished by or against the board.
155 Dissolution of disciplinary panel
(1) On the commencement—
(a) the disciplinary panel is dissolved; and
(b) the members of the panel go out of office.
(2) No compensation is payable to a member because of
subsection (1).
156 Complaints under repealed Act
(1) This section applies to a complaint about an individual given
to the former board under the repealed Act if the former board
had not authorised an investigation of, or otherwise dealt with,
the complaint under that Act before the commencement.
(2) The complaint is taken to be a complaint under this Act.
157 Disciplinary proceeding started before commencement
(1) This section applies if, under the repealed Act and before the
commencement—
(a) the board has laid a disciplinary charge against a
registered professional engineer; and
(b) a disciplinary panel has been formed to hear and decide
the charge.
[s 158]
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(2) The disciplinary panel may hear, or continue to hear, and
decide the charge under the repealed Act as if the Act had not
been repealed and the panel had not been dissolved under
section 155.
(3) Also, for hearing the charge or doing anything else under the
repealed Act in relation to the charge, a disciplinary panel
member has the member’s entitlements under the repealed
Act.
(4) The repealed Act continues in force for the purposes of the
panel and the proceeding, including, for example, the making
of an order by the panel under section 60 of that Act.
(5) An order of the panel under section 60 of the repealed Act has
effect as if it were an order of the tribunal under section 131 or
132 of this Act.
(6) For this section, a reference in the repealed Act to the board
may, if necessary or desirable for the proceeding, be taken to
be a reference to the board established under this Act.
158 Continuing investigations
(1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before the
commencement—
(a) is authorised as an investigator under section 45 of the
repealed Act; and
(b) is investigating under that Act—
(i) the conduct of a registered professional engineer;
or
(ii) a suspected contravention of the repealed Act by a
registered professional engineer.
(2) On the commencement, the person is taken to be an
investigator under section 48 and may continue the
investigation under this Act.
(3) In this section—
[s 159]
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registered professional engineer means a registered
professional engineer under the repealed Act.
159 Appeals
(1) Subsection (2) applies if—
(a) a person has appealed to the District Court under the
repealed Act before the commencement against a
decision or order mentioned in section 67(1) of the
repealed Act; and
(b) the appeal has not been decided before the
commencement.
(2) The District Court may hear, or continue to hear, and decide
the appeal under the repealed Act as if the Act had not been
repealed.
(3) Subsection (4) applies if—
(a) immediately before the commencement a person could
have appealed to the District Court under the repealed
Act against a decision or order mentioned in
section 67(1) of the repealed Act; and
(b) the person has not appealed before the commencement.
(4) The person may appeal, and the District Court may hear and
decide the appeal, under the repealed Act as if this Act had not
commenced.
(5) For giving effect to its decision under subsection (2) or (4),
the District Court may make the orders it considers necessary
having regard to the provisions of this Act.
Example for subsection (5)—
On an appeal by a person against a decision to cancel the person’s
registration under the repealed Act, the District Court may order that
the board register the person under this Act.
[s 160]
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160 Existing registrations—individuals
(1) This section applies to an individual who, immediately before
the commencement, was a registered professional engineer
under the repealed Act.
(2) On the commencement, the individual is taken to be a
registered professional engineer under this Act.
(3) Despite section 15, the registration remains in force, unless it
is sooner cancelled, until the later of the following days—
(a) 31 December first happening after the commencement;
(b) the day that is 3 months after the commencement.
(4) However, if the individual pays the registration fee to the
board before the day on which the registration would have
ended under subsection (3), the registration remains in force
until the last day of the financial year in which the registration
would otherwise have ended under the subsection.
(5) For the individual’s first application for renewal or restoration
of registration, the individual must state the areas of
engineering for which the individual reasonably believes he or
she is qualified for registration.
(6) In this section—
registration fee means the registration fee prescribed under
section 8(2)(b)(iv) for registration for not more than 6 months.
161 Existing registrations—divisions of engineering
(1) This section applies—
(a) to an individual who, immediately before the
commencement, was a registered professional engineer
under the repealed Act; and
(b) until the day on which the individual’s registration is
first renewed or restored under this Act.
(2) For part 7 of this Act, the division of engineering in which the
individual was registered under the repealed Act is taken to be
[s 162]
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the area of engineering for which the individual is registered
under this Act.
162 Existing registrations—other entities
(1) This section applies to the following entities—
(a) a registered professional engineering company;
(b) a registered professional engineering unit.
(2) On the commencement, the entity’s registration under part 5
or 6 of the repealed Act ceases to have effect.
163 Existing applications for registration
(1) This section applies to an application for registration as a
registered professional engineer under the repealed Act and
not decided before the commencement.
(2) The application must be decided under this Act.
164 Continuing effect of qualifications under repealed Act
(1) Subsection (2) applies—
(a) despite the repeal of the repealed Act; and
(b) only before 1 July 2008.
(2) A person is taken to be qualified for registration under
section 10(1) if the person complies with the requirements for
registration under section 18(a) or (b) of the repealed Act.
165 Refund of fees—registered professional engineering
company or unit
(1) As soon as practicable after the commencement, the board
must refund to each registered professional engineering
company and registered professional engineering unit an
amount calculated using the formula—
[s 166]
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(2) In this section—
A means the amount to be refunded.
B means a reasonable amount, decided by the board, for
administrative costs incurred by the board in refunding the
amount under this section.
C means the number of whole months for which the company
or unit was registered as a professional engineering company
or unit in the relevant period in which this section
commences.
F means—
(a) if the company or unit applied for registration as a
registered professional engineering company or unit in
the year in which this section commences—$195; or
(b) if the company or unit applied for renewal of its
registration as a registered professional engineering
company or unit in the year in which this section
commences—$121.
relevant period means the period from 1 April in a year to 31
March in the following year.
Division 3 Validating provision
166 Validating registration of professional engineers
(1) Subsection (2) applies if the board purported to register an
individual as a registered professional engineer in 1 or more
areas of engineering between 1 January 2003 and 13 July
2006.
(2) The purported registration of the individual is taken always to
have been valid for the area or areas of engineering in which
the individual is purported to be registered as if, at all relevant
[s 167]
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times, areas of engineering had been prescribed under a
regulation.
Division 4 Transitional provision for
Professional Engineers and Other
Legislation Amendment Act 2008,
part 2
167 Certain decisions made under part 6A to have effect from
1 July 2008
A decision of the Minister, made before 1 July 2008, under
section 112J to grant an application for approval of a proposed
assessment scheme, has effect from 1 July 2008.
Division 5 Transitional provisions for
Professional Engineers and Other
Legislation Amendment Act 2008,
part 3
168 Definitions for this division
In this division—
commencement means the commencement of this division.
pre-amended Act means this Act as in force immediately
before the commencement.
preserved area of engineering means the following areas of
engineering under the pre-amended Act—
(a) aeronautical engineering;
(b) agricultural engineering;
(c) chemical engineering;
(d) civil engineering;
(e) computer systems engineering;
[s 169]
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(f) electrical engineering;
(g) mechanical engineering;
(h) metallurgical engineering;
(i) mining engineering;
(j) naval architectural engineering.
169 Certain applications to be dealt with under pre-amended
Act
(1) This section applies to any of the following applications if the
application was made to the board, and not finally dealt with,
before the commencement—
(a) an application for registration under the pre-amended
Act, section 8;
(b) an application for renewal of registration under the
pre-amended Act, section 18;
(c) an application for restoration of registration under the
pre-amended Act, section 23.
(2) The pre-amended Act continues to apply to the application for
the purpose of making a decision about the application.
170 Continuing registration requirements for preserved areas
of engineering
(1) This section applies for the purpose of having continuing
registration requirements for a preserved area of engineering.
(2) A reference in section 16 to an area of engineering is taken to
include a reference to a preserved area of engineering.
171 Application of preserved areas of engineering to certain
provisions
(1) This section applies to the following registered professional
engineers if the engineer is registered for a preserved area of
engineering—
[s 171]
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(a) an engineer who was registered before the
commencement;
(b) an engineer who, under section 169, was registered after
the commencement.
(2) For sections 34(2)(b) and 115(3), the preserved area of
engineering for which the engineer is registered is taken to be
the area of engineering for which the engineer is registered.
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Schedule 2 Dictionary
section 7
accepted representations, for part 6A, division 7, see
section 112R.
affected by bankruptcy action, in relation to an individual,
means the individual is an insolvent under administration.
affected by control action, in relation to a corporation, means
the corporation—
(a) has executed a deed of company arrangement under the
Corporations Act; or
(b) is the subject of a winding-up, whether voluntarily or
under a court order, under that Act; or
(c) is the subject of an appointment of an administrator,
liquidator, receiver or receiver and manager under that
Act.
annual registration fee means the fee prescribed under a
regulation to be the annual registration fee.
application for approval, for part 6A, see section 112A.
application for renewal, for part 6A, see section 112A.
application for variation, for part 6A, see section 112A.
approved audit program, for part 2B, see section 35J(1).
approved code of practice means the code of practice having
effect under section 108(3).
approved form means a form approved under section 143.
areas of engineering see section 7A(1).
assessment entity, in relation to an assessment scheme, means
the entity for which the scheme was approved.
assessment scheme means a scheme approved under part 6A.
audited engineer, for part 2B, see section 35J(2).
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board means the Board of Professional Engineers of
Queensland established under this Act.
certificate of registration means a certificate of registration as
a registered professional engineer.
chairperson means the chairperson of the board.
complainant, other than in section 139, means the person who
makes the complaint.
complaint means a complaint made under section 37(1).
contact details, of a registered professional engineer, means
the registered professional engineer’s business address,
telephone number, facsimile number or email address notified
to the board by the engineer and the engineer’s RPEQ
registration number.
continuing registration requirements see section 16(1).
criminal history, of a person, means the person’s criminal
history within the meaning of the Criminal Law
(Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986, other than spent
convictions.
deputy chairperson means the deputy chairperson of the
board.
disciplinary ground see section 36.
disciplinary proceeding see section 127.
executive officer, of a corporation affected by control action,
means a person who was an executive officer of the
corporation when it became affected by control action or
within 1 year before it became affected by the action if 5 years
have not elapsed since it became affected by the action.
executive officer, of a corporation, means a person who is
concerned with, or takes part in, the corporation’s
management, whether the person is a director or the person’s
position is given the name of executive officer.
expiry day see section 18(2).
former owner see section 62W(1).
general power see section 62K(1).
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health assessment, in relation to a registered professional
engineer, includes—
(a) a physical, medical or psychiatric examination or test of
the engineer; and
(b) asking questions to assess the engineer’s mental and
physical health.
health assessment report see section 35G(1).
health assessor see section 35E(2).
help requirement see section 62L(1).
identity card means an identity card issued under section 50.
indictable offence includes an indictable offence dealt with
summarily.
information includes a document.
information notice means a notice complying with the QCAT
Act, section 157(2).
institution see section 82(2)(b).
investigator means—
(a) a person appointed as an investigator under
section 48(1); or
(b) a member nominated by the board to conduct an
investigation mentioned in section 80(1)(c).
member means a member of the board.
non-practising professional engineer means a registered
professional engineer who does not carry out, and is not
responsible for the carrying out of, professional engineering
services.
notice means a written notice.
occupier, of a place, includes the following—
(a) if there is more than 1 person who apparently occupies
the place—any 1 of the persons;
(b) any person at the place who is apparently acting with the
authority of a person who apparently occupies the place;
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(c) if no-one apparently occupies the place—any person
who is an owner of the place.
of, a place, includes at or on the place.
order, in relation to section 60 of the repealed Act, includes a
caution or reprimand given under that section.
owner, of a thing that has been seized under part 3,
division 7C, includes a person who would be entitled to
possession of the thing had it not been seized.
performance agreement see section 99(1).
place includes the following—
(a) premises;
(b) vacant land;
(c) a place in Queensland waters;
(d) a place held under more than 1 title or by more than 1
owner;
(e) the land or water on or in which a building or other
structure, or a group of buildings or other structures, is
situated.
practising professional engineer means a registered
professional engineer who carries out, or is responsible for the
carrying out of, professional engineering services.
premises includes—
(a) a building or other structure; and
(b) a part of a building or other structure; and
(c) a caravan or vehicle; and
(d) premises held under more than 1 title or by more than 1
owner.
prescriptive standard means a document that states
procedures or criteria—
(a) for carrying out a design, or a construction, production,
operation or maintenance activity, relating to
engineering; and
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(b) the application of which, to the carrying out of the
design, or the construction, production, operation or
maintenance activity, does not require advanced
scientifically based calculations.
Example—
AS1684—Timber framing code, published by Standards Australia
professional engineering service means an engineering
service that requires, or is based on, the application of
engineering principles and data to a design, or to a
construction, production, operation or maintenance activity,
relating to engineering, and does not include an engineering
service that is provided only in accordance with a prescriptive
standard.
proposed action, for part 6A, division 7, see
section 112Q(1)(b).
public place means a place, or part of a place—
(a) that the public is entitled to use, that is open to members
of the public or that is used by the public, whether or not
on payment of money; or
(b) the occupier of which allows, whether or not on
payment of money, members of the public to enter.
regional Queensland means the area of the State other than—
(a) the Beaudesert, Boonah, Brisbane, Caboolture,
Caloundra, Crows Nest, Esk, Gatton, Gold Coast,
Ipswich, Kilcoy, Laidley, Logan, Maroochy, Noosa,
Pine Rivers, Redcliffe and Redland local government
areas; and
(b) the area of the City of Brisbane.
register means the register kept under section 102.
registered professional engineer means a person registered as
a registered professional engineer under this Act.
registrar means the registrar of the board.
registration means registration under part 2.
registration period see section 15(1).
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relevant person, for part 2, division 8, see section 35A(1).
repealed Act means the Professional Engineers Act 1988.
RPEQ registration number means the number assigned to a
registered professional engineer on the engineer’s certificate
of registration.
show cause notice, for part 6A, division 7, see
section 112Q(2).
show cause period, for part 6A, division 7, see
section 112Q(2)(e).
subject engineer, for part 2A, see section 35D.
suitable for approval, for part 6A, see section 112A.
tribunal means QCAT.
unsatisfactory professional conduct, for a registered
professional engineer, includes the following—
(a) conduct that is of a lesser standard than that which
might reasonably be expected of the registered
professional engineer by the public or the engineer’s
professional peers;
(b) conduct that demonstrates incompetence, or a lack of
adequate knowledge, skill, judgement or care, in the
practice of engineering;
(c) misconduct in a professional respect;
(d) fraudulent or dishonest behaviour in the practice of
engineering;
(e) other improper or unethical conduct.
vehicle—
(a) means a vehicle under the Transport Operations (Road
Use Management) Act 1995; and
(b) includes a vessel under that Act.
