by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au From July 1st last year the role of Queensland real estate agents in preparing contracts was severely limited by law. Sit back, dear readers, as I now blow the whistle on an extraordinary government back-flip. Remember when the Beattie government back-stabbed real estate consumers who had been ripped-off by over-priced property marketeers? In December 2002 amendments to the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act (PAMDA) retrospectively prevented...
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by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Once, when Queensland’s Premier Peter Beattie was planning a ministerial reshuffle, I offered him this advice: the Fair Trading portfolio, because of its appalling real estate regulation record, should be handled by his Attorney-General – or another legally-qualified minister. Beattie’s Chief of Staff replied: “The Premier does not consider it essential that Ministers have formal qualifications in the areas of their portfolio responsibilities. While there may be advantages in...
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OPINIONby Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au A typical marketeering scenario begins with cold-calling of unsuspecting Mums-and-Dads to tout wealth-creation and/or tax saving seminars then proceeds to the slick selling and financing of specially selected investment properties. Those with snouts in this profitable property trough include sold-out financial advisers, amoral real estate agents, dodgy developers, willing builders, maggot mortgage brokers, parasitic solicitors, one-eyed valuers and disingenuous lenders. They are all in-the-know as this recent (slightly...
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