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A statement issued by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has accused the national body of launching a “sordid campaign” to destabilise its membership.
Friction between the two representative bodies became apparent in 2015, when the Queensland institute decided not to continue its association with the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), citing the high cost of membership at roughly $260,000 per year.
The state body, which is under the leadership of chief executive Antonia Mercorella, has now publicly commented on its decision to remain independent over the intervening years. The statement comes as the REIQ claims to have received leaked documents that it alleges show the REIA painting the state organisation in a negative light.
“The REIQ acknowledges the REIA has since made some progress in restructuring its operations to be more cost effective. However, it remains our view the REIA’s focus is misaligned to what a truly effective national body should be, and it is still not in our interests and the interests of our membership to re-join,” the state body said.
REIQ claims that in response to its continued independence, “the REIA has now resorted to bullying and calculated, underhanded tactics in an endeavour to destabilise the REIQ’s solid membership foundation which is built on professionalism, integrity and trust.
“Documents leaked to the REIQ outline the REIA’s sordid campaign. The REIA alleges the REIQ is ‘the only non-member state or territory’ and that it is depriving Queensland real estate agents a voice in relation to national issues.”
While the REIA’s website lists all of the other Australian state and territory institutes as members, REIQ alleges that a second institute has decided not to continue with its membership. At the time that REIQ opted out of the national association, REINSW had also left the fold. The NSW institute decided to rejoin in 2016.
REIQ claims that despite its decision not to form an official part of the REIA, it has “continued to lend support and a voice to national issues and has always maintained a collaborative relationship with each of the state and territory real estate institutes (REI’s) and the REIA”.
But in the wake of what it described as “recent poor behaviour” and an “unkind communications strategy,” REIQ is maintaining its firm position that it is better off as an independent entity. The body suggested the REIA “takes a hard look at its governing culture and operations and addresses internal issues which have led to the REIQ and other REI’s leaving its ranks over time”.
Still, the Queensland chapter says that it is “committed to working with all parties as amicably as possible in the future to strengthen the state and national positions of our dynamic and rewarding real estate profession” and aims to put this episode in the past.
On its part, REIA said that it was “disappointing that a non-member body of REIA has chosen to respond in this way and remain isolated on the national stage”.
“That is their choice and we respect that,” the national body added.
“Our firm focus is on restoring national representation to REIA and ensuring Queenslanders have input into our work.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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