Attendees at Garrards Roadshows over the last three years would be aware that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) directed the Primary Industries Ministerial Council to develop a single national framework for the regulation of agvet chemicals. This is the final section of a review that also included the assessment and registration od Agvet chemicals in Australia.
The Proposed Model was released to a meeting of people that had expressed interest in the process this morning in Canberra.
Summary of current proposed model with respect to Pest Management – this still requires endorsement by COAG.
There is a lot of discussion to be held at all levels regarding some of the subject matter in the proposed model let alone gaining agreement by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.
- Individual licensing similar to driver’s license – individuals licensed by the State in which they reside but can work anywhere in Australia. Similarly, if the license is suspended or cancelled in one jurisdiction it will apply to all.
- The licensing of pest management businesses is being considered.
- It is anticipated that the proposal will be presented to COAG in December 2012, with implementation possible from late 2014 to 2015 (depending when/if COAG approve the proposal).
- Fees and charges to be set by each jurisdiction, otherwise the legislation will be ‘harmonised’ throughout Australia.
- A new strategic policy committee will be created and will be responsible for determining the specific training requirements during the implementation phase for the proposed system.
- Pest Managers required to hold, as a minimum, “Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 3 competency determined to be appropriate for the occupation as a condition of licence”. (There is insufficient detail at this stage to whether this will be the current requirement in most states of units 5, 6 and 18 or Certificate III as in Western Australia.)
The Discussion Paper is available on Garrards web site here. The executive summary from the Discussion Paper is printed below.
The new Pest Management Training Package was released in May 2012. The package is now under the CPP07 Property Services Training Package and is called CPP30911 Certificate III in Pest Management. Completion of Certificate III requires competency in 10 core units and three elective units. The details of CPP30911 are also available and can be downloaded here.
Garrards has been invited to provide further input with initial views on implementation issues into the reforms process. As the elements outlined in the regulatory model are broad, there will also be further opportunities for feedback on their details after COAG’s consideration.
If you wish to have your say through Garrards, please e-mail Phil Sayer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will collate and on-forward your comments.
