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The honourable Robert Borsak, representative of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party in the NSW legislative council, has taken a swipe at Fair Trading NSW, saying that there is a litany of examples where it has failed “the market, industry and the consumer”, as the spat between the NSW government and the REINSW regarding regulating the industry continues.
Mr Borsak caused controversy recently after he revealed that he had hunted elephants in Africa.
At the time, Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said that he was “unfit for office”, following revelations that Mr Borsak had eaten the elephant. But Mr Borsak responded, saying that he is proud to be a hunter and to speak publicly about his hunting.
Speaking in the NSW Parliament last week, Mr Borsak said that the property industry makes a “significant” contribution to the New South Wales economy and to government revenue from property taxes.
He added that, given the importance of the property market, an appropriately resourced and experienced regulatory authority is essential, echoing REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin’s earlier call to have the regulation of the property services industry removed from NSW Fair Trading’s remit.
“The property services industry needs a competent and industry-experienced regulator that will work proactively, cooperatively and constructively with the industry,” Mr Borsak said.
“Fair Trading NSW has repeatedly demonstrated its inability to respond to the challenge. As with many other high-value industries in the state, the property services industry must be supported.
“It is my submission that the best interests of the consumer dictates that a commissioner for the property services industry be established and located within an arm of government that is best able to support the industry.”
Inefficient
Speaking exclusively to REB, Mr McKibbin said that it is disappointing that the government can’t see the importance of the property industry.
“We have a series of government departments all clawing for property, particularly NSW Fair Trading who unfortunately don’t have the skills and competencies in this area. And property is being administered across a number of departments who don’t communicate with one another efficiently,” Mr McKibbin said.
“So, we end up with a very dysfunctional, disjointed solution for the property industry.”
Mr McKibbin reiterated REINSW’s stance on the regulator.
“So, what we are trying to do is to pull the property industry under one regulator, and for that regulator to come from the industry so that they have some experience.
“We are dealing with career bureaucrats who don’t have the necessary experience. And frankly, they are somewhat dangerous in this area because they come up with ideas that sound good to them but unfortunately are not. I think that Fair Trading NSW’s competencies lie in the high-frequency, low dollar value, low complexity area of the community. I think that Mr Borsak made that point.”
Asked whether Mr Borsak’s support on this matter would help or hurt REINSW’s cause, given his divisive proclivity for hunting wild animals, Mr McKibbin was delicate in his response.
“The institute does not support parties or people, the institute supports or apposes policy.
“So, in this case, Mr Borsak has made his policy position in relation to the property services industry and the requirements of that industry, and from our perspective, we are supportive of his policies.”
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