REIWA rejects national licensing push

WESTERN Australian real estate agents say they have strong reservations over a federal push to create a national licensing system.

Real Estate Institute of Western Australia president Alan Bourke said the theory of a national licence for real estate personnel made sense, but that he was waiting to see the detail of the proposal.

“The plan from Canberra is to broadly ensure that when workers move interstate their licences are uniform and recognised across state borders,” Mr Bourke said.

“While on the surface this makes perfect sense, when it comes to real estate agency in WA the proposal will have the effect of watering down our existing high standards and lowering the benchmark for training and for ongoing professional development.”

REIWA has called on the federal and state governments to agree to a national licensing system, which requires agents to achieve a diploma level for licensing, compulsory professional development and require licensing for commercial agency work.

The national licensing scheme is due to start in July 2012.