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Staff Reporter
Robust training standards must be part of any change to national licensing for real estate agents, the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has told the Prime Minister’s Economic Forum in Brisbane earlier this week.
REIA CEO Amanda Lynch said recommendations put forward by the Council of Australian Government (COAG) taskforce in relation to a national licensing system for the real estate industry would erode standards and diminish the economic benefits of the reform.
“The REIA is supportive of national licensing and shares our members’ frustrations with the delays in the process,” she said. “However, it would be a grave mistake to allow standards to be set by the lowest common denominator in pursuit of an outcome.”
National licensing of real estate agents was originally due to commence on July 1 this year. However, with delays in the process, it is now unlikely that commencement will occur before 2013.
According to the REIA, the COAG Taskforce has made recommendations that would reduce the level of qualification required for a licensed agent and their representatives, remove compulsory professional development and make it unnecessary for commercial agents to be licensed at all.
“In the push towards nationalisation, national standards for skills and training should be set so we can ensure the service delivery that is expected of our industry is not compromised,” Ms Lynch added.
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