NSW - Australian Security Industry Association Ltd (ASIAL)

NSW News

Tax assistance for small businesses in Western Sydney

The ATO is inviting small business operators in Western Sydney to attend free one-on-one information sessions to help them stay on track with their tax and superannuation obligations.

View the media release below for further information on the sessions including date, time and location.

Media release- Western Sydney

NSW - Changes to security photo security license cards (removal of date of birth)

In reponse to concerns raised by ASIAL, SLED NSW Police have determined that the inclusion of a person's date of birth on a photo security license is unnecessary. Licensees may request (via email or mail) replacement cards that do not display the date of birth. The $65 replacement fee will be waived if requests are received before 1 March 2012. Read more.

NSW Police Minister announces removal of Provisional licence requirement

At the recent ASIAL breakfast briefing in Sydney The Hon Michael Gallacher, Minister for Police & Emergency Services / Minister for the Hunter, announced that the Provisional Licence requirement in NSW will be removed.

It is anticipated that the change will occur in the new year once proposed legislative and regulatory amendments have been approved by Parliament.

ASIAL responds to proposed changes to NSW regulatory model

In response to the 2009 ICAC Report, the NSW Government is proposing significant changes to the regulatory model. These include that:

the co-regulatory model should be abandoned in favour of regulation by the Commissioner, delegated to the Registry;
the Registry should be restructured, with an increase to 73 full-time equivalent staff (up from 40 full-time equivalent); and
a fully industry-funded funding model for the proposed enhancements should be adopted –increases of over 500% are proposed for some Master Licence categories.

View ASIAL September 2011 Submission

View ASIAL August 2010 Response

View ASIAL November 2010 Letter

NSW ‘crackdown’ on security industry

Representatives from ASIAL fronted the media in early September (including Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC PM program, JJJ ‘The Hack’, 2UE, Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph) to correct inaccurate media reports that the industry is ‘self-regulated’.

As has been the case for over a decade, under the co-regulatory model the NSW Police are responsible for conducting probity checks, issuing licences and overseeing the training provided to licensed security personnel.

View ASIAL Media Statement

Important changes to RSA certification for staff and security at NSW licensed venues

The NSW Government introduced a photo competency card for all graduates of approved RSA (responsible service of alcohol) and RCG (responsible conduct of gambling) courses from 22 August 2011. This means anyone graduating from that date who is required by a licensed venue to have responsible service of alcohol qualifications (such as security staff) must have a photo competency card (or an interim certificate) as evidence of their qualifications and are required to show this card to police or OLGR inspectors on request. Paper RSA/RCG certificates are no longer issued as valid evidence of competency in RSA or RCG in NSW.

People with valid paper RSA or RCG certificates issued prior to 22 August 2011, are not immediately impacted. These paper certificates will continue to be valid.

However it is planned that all paper based certificates will be phased out in stages over the next five years. The first group of paper based certificate holders to transition to the new photo card (by completing a new course and applying for a photo card) will be those who have a paper certificate issued prior to 31 December 2000. Holders of these certificates will have until 30 June 2012 to complete a new course and then apply for a photo competency card from a participating Australia Post outlet.

Where to find information on the changes:
Detailed information about these important changes are available on the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing website at OLGR.

Who to talk to for more information:
The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has dedicated competency card team to assist with any inquiries you may have regarding these changes to RSA and RCG certification and what it means for security industry members. The direct telephone number is: 9995 0900 (8.30am to 4.30pm Mon-Fri) or
email competencycard@communities.nsw.gov.au

AAT rules on Mutual Recognition applications

This month the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) ruled on two mutual recognition applications refused by the Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate (SLED).

The SLED argued that the applicants were not eligible to apply under the provisions of Section 19 of the Mutual Recognition Act, because each had a previous NSW licence that had been revoked "as a result of disciplinary action". In both cases, the individuals' NSW licences were revoked because they failed to comply with the requirement to complete a required training upgrade. The AATaffirmed the Commissioner's decision, effectively ruling that a revocation on these grounds does constitute "disciplinary action".This means that applicants who were revoked for not providing upgraded training certificates, and who then obtain an interstate licence, are not eligible for a licence in NSW under mutual recognition principles.

To read the decisions in full, visit the AAT's website www.aat.gov.au. Also, individuals who have obtained a NSW licence under mutual recognition principles should be aware that each time they reapply for that licence they must still hold a current equivalent interstate licence. If the interstate licence has expired, the individual will not be eligible to reapply under mutual recognition and will need to meet NSW licensing requirements (including completing training and assessment with a SLED approved Registered Training Organisation).

NSW abandons Co-Regulatory Partnership

In the wake of the scathing ICAC Report on Corruption in the Provision of Security Industry Training, the NSW Government has announced that it will abandon the co-regulatory approach in favour of the Security Industry Registry (SIR) assuming the role of principal regulatory body.

The changes include:

The SIR will be renamed the Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) and take on a greater regulatory and enforcement role. It will become part of the NSW Police Force’s State Crime Command.

The security industry will fully fund the additional $4.7 million required for SLED to perform its new regulatory functions.

Master licensees will no longer be required to be members of an Approved Security Industry Association – this requirement will come into effect once the legislative changes have been passed by Parliament (anticipated to be in the next 3-6 months).

Read the letter from SIR to all Master Licence Holders

Read SIR's Legislative and Regulatory Change document

Read ASIAL's correspondence to Members