INSIDER_Jun_Jul10 Iss3_52pp

12/6/10

4:12 PM

Page 12

INDUSTRY NeWS

CONCERNS GROW OVER USE OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION ACT Concerns are growing over the number of licence holders who appear to be exploiting the disparity between states and territories licensing regimes through the Mutual Recognition Act (MRA). In NSW, for example, over the past year, over 50% of all new individual security licence applications are now being made under the MRA. Whilst not illegal, there are concerns that the sharp rise in applications are contrary to the spirit in which the Act is intended to operate.The fear is that applicants are using the MRA to circumvent requirements to hold a NSW licence, such as permanent residency and undergo the 12 month probationary period. There is also emerging evidence of wide variations in the training with some Registered Training Organisations promoting truncated training times to secure a licence. In March, ASIAL raised its concerns with Federal, State and Territory Governments. A strongly worded communiqué encouraged Governments to prioritise the finalisation and

implementation of nationally consistent legislation for the private security industry and implementation of the training provisions under the COAG supported process for the regulation of the Private Security Industry. The apparent exploitation of the MRA, supports ASIAL’s position in encouraging Governments to include the security industry in the next round of national

licensing reform work being coordinated through the COAG National Licensing Taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. ASIAL would like to see this matter gain priority for consideration at the upcoming meetings of the Security Industry Regulators Forum scheduled for June and in the work of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (MCPEM).

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12 //SECURITY INSIDER JUN/JUL 2010

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