That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Psychologists Bill 1999 repeals sections 57, 58 and 59 of the Psychologists Act 1994 (the Act).

The transitional provisions of section 57 of the Act, allow for the registration of persons who do not possess the qualifications and training in order to gain registration as a psychologist under the substantive provisions of the Act.

Section 58 of the Act provides for an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) of board decisions made under section 57 of the Act, and as such it will no longer be applicable upon the repeal of section 57 of the Act. Section 59 of the Act is a spent provision relating to the appointment of first board members and is repealed in the interests of good house keeping.

The Psychologists Act 1994 (the Act) commenced on 16 June 1995, and introduced statutory regulation for the registration of psychologists in the ACT and also included provisions for controlling the practice of psychology and other related matters.

Preparation of the legislation was in accordance with an agreement of Australian Health Ministers to introduce uniform regulatory arrangements for health occupations. At that time the ACT was the only jurisdiction which did not register psychologists.

The introduction of the Act demonstrated a recognition on the part of ACT Government that there was potential for considerable harm to be caused to members of the public unless persons who provide psychological services were regulated by statute and held accountable for the manner in which they practice.

During the preparation of the legislation a need was identified to include transitional provisions which would allow people who were practising as psychologists in the ACT to become registered within a period of six months after the commencement of the Act, without being in breach of the Act.

It was also considered appropriate to include in the legislation a provision which would allow people who held qualifications that did not entitle them to registration under the substantive provisions of the