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Professionals such as architects owe a duty to their clients to perform work under a contract in a reasonably competent manner. In other words, architects have a contractual obligation to exercise reasonable skill.
If the contract does not include an express term to that effect, such a term will be implied (Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74 at 85).
Corresponding to the contractual standard of care is a duty in the tort of negligence to exercise reasonable skill and care in providing professional services (Hawkins v Clayton (1988), 164 CLR 538 per Deane J at 583).