REIQ calls on government to deliver on CPD promise

REAL estate peak body, The Real Estate Institute of Queensland, has called on the State Government to honour its more than two-year-old promise to introduce mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) to the real estate profession.

REIQ Chairman Rob Honeycombe said the Government had been stalling since taking office and enough was enough – it was time to come good on the promise.

“Queenslanders are staring down the barrel of another election and before our politicians start wheeling out more promises, we’re asking them to deliver on the promises they’ve already made,” Mr Honeycombe said.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham spoke at the REIQ Awards for Excellence before 600 real estate professionals and gave a public commitment that the Palaszczuk Labor Government would introduce this important consumer protection measure in its first term.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt also agreed that this was “a no-brainer” and gave the REIQ a firm commitment that mandatory CPD would be introduced.

“Two leading Government ministers, Cabinet members no less, have given us their word that mandatory CPD would be introduced,” Mr Honeycombe said.

“More than 50,000 Queenslanders work in real estate and the profession would benefit significantly from increased levels of consumer protection and trust that this measure would bring,” Mr Honeycombe said.

“Lawyers, accountants and financial planners all handle people’s personal wealth and must undertake ongoing CPD – why should real estate be any different?”

Mandatory CPD would bring Queensland into line with other states, where minimum education requirements ensure every real estate practitioner must maintain their professional knowledge every year to retain their licence to operate.