Chapter II Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (Qld): The answer to our prayers or the devil in disguise?

Tammy Johnson, Bond University

Article comments

Submitted Version.

Johnson, T. (2009). Chapter II Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (Qld): The answer to our prayers or the devil in disguise? Australian property law journal, 17(1), 1-51.

Access the publisher's website.

2009 HERDC submission. FoR code: 1801

© Copyright Reed International Books Australia Pty Limited, 2009.

Abstract

In the mid to late 1990s the Gold Coast real property market was the subject of intense marketeering operations. Investigation revealed that the legislation regulating the real estate industry at that time was unable to combat such unethical and unscrupulous behaviour. The Queensland Government realised that action must be taken to provide for protection of consumers in the real property market. After some hasty drafting, the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (Qld) became effective on 1 July 2001. The aim of the Act was simple - to provide for consumer protection. After numerous and frequent amendments, the Act now prescribes a complex and technical contracting procedure. This article suggests that, by over-complicating the contracting procedure, the legislators have lost sight of their original goal of consumer protection.