The fight to keep as many agents employed as possible

“Currently, the award requires that an agent make at least $54.5k p.a. — the Minimum Income Threshold Amount (MITA) — for the previous three years before they can be employed on a commission-only basis,” said Adrian Kelly, president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA).

“REIA has requested that the commission agree to a halving of the MITA in the current circumstances to keep as many of these agents employed as possible.

“If this isn’t agreed to, with the certainty of decreased sales activity, these agents are at risk of being stood down as agencies struggle to stay open as long as they can.”

Mr Kelly went on to highlight that feedback it has had from its member state and territory Real Estate Institutes “suggests that these agents would prefer to have the opportunity to continue to work”.

Mr Kelly concluded: “In response to this situation, REIA proposes that the current MITA provisions of the award be changed to 50 per cent of those currently in place for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

“This is an approach that encapsulates the spirit and intent of the government’s initiatives of sharing the burden.”