Page 854 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 March 1991
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MR HUMPHRIES: That is a hypothetical question, Mr Speaker. I am sure that I have acted within the terms of any legislation that governs the position of the chief executive. I think Mr Berry is barking up the wrong tree as usual.
Rental Bond Board Legislation
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister, Bernard Collaery. Is the Government proceeding with significantly different Rental Bond Board legislation from that circulated for community consultation? Is a further consultation period envisaged? Has the Minister been advised today of serious community concerns about another redrafting of the Rental Bond Board legislation, which removes real estate agents and their tenants from the proposed coverage of the board? Does he intend to meet with the community sector in the next 24 hours, as they have requested?
MR COLLAERY: I thank Mr Moore for the question, and I doubly thank him for allowing me to put down this absurd rumour that seems to be gravitating from certain sources down towards those interested parties. The fact is that the Government is still re-examining the rental bond process. One of the proposals put by the REI is that it use a statutory trust account system similar to those employed by solicitors. We have taken that on board, and I have asked the department, as late as early this week, to give me further advice and, hopefully, an issues paper on that aspect.
The issue is some way from resolution. There is no need, in my view, for me to arrange any emergency meeting with tenants. I see Mr Connolly shaking his head. I suggest that he meet with the real estate agents and other reputable people in this community to consider the very valid arguments that are being advanced on both sides on this issue.
The fact is, Mr Speaker, that ACTCOSS has submitted to me that about 6 per cent of bond moneys go into dispute out of 14,000. It has been put to me by the REI: If more than 90 per cent of bonds are not in dispute, should we not have a system, as is employed by the Law Society in the statutory interest account and so forth, where the bond money goes into an untouchable trust account for that 90 per cent? When there is a dispute, the money goes across automatically to the bonds office of the Government. That is an arguable case. It has been put to us. It has gone no higher than that. There is some fear mongering out there. I suspect that it is somewhat ideologically driven. No decision has been taken. The issue has not been brought back to the ministry. It is far too early to jump to conclusions.
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