ArchiTeam has been working hard behind the scenes to develop an advocacy campaign in response to the recent Victorian regulatory changes to the Architect–Client Agreement and the unintended consequences arising from what we believe was insufficient industry consultation.

Importantly, because these changes have been introduced through regulation rather than legislation, there is a limited window of opportunity (until 9 September) to seek disallowance of the regulation through Parliament. This process requires only one MP to move a motion challenging the regulation. To give MPs confidence to do so, we need to demonstrate the extent of the impact these changes will have on Victorian architects, particularly small practices and sole practitioners. Alternatively, strong industry feedback may encourage the Government to amend the regulation voluntarily.

We need your help.

We ask every Victorian member to take a few minutes to send this letter to your local MPs. Please copy and paste the letter into the body of your email and personalise it where appropriate. We encourage you to send separate emails to:

• Your local Lower House MP; and

• The five Upper House MPs representing your region.

Please also copy the Minister for Housing and the Premier on each email. A separate guide here explains how to identify and contact your local representatives.

Our objective is simple: ensure MPs receive a significant volume of correspondence highlighting the practical consequences of these changes for architects working in small practices, sole practice, and consultant-style commissions. The more architects who participate, the stronger our case will be.

Please also share this campaign with Victorian architects who are not ArchiTeam members. Broad industry support will significantly strengthen our advocacy efforts.

The template letter includes a request for a meeting with your local MP. If a meeting is arranged, ArchiTeam is happy to assist with preparation and provide supporting information. If you do not wish to request a meeting, simply remove that paragraph before sending.

We appreciate that everyone is busy, but this is a rare opportunity to influence the outcome of a regulation that could have a significant impact on your practice. A small investment of time now could help avoid substantial additional administrative burden, unnecessary processes, and increased paperwork in the future.

Please take action today and encourage your colleagues to do the same.

Template Letter link

Guide to identifying your MP