With the 2019 NSW March State Election just around the corner, Gary Adamson will join the Small Business Party and focus much of his energies on the issues faced by the property services industry, including lobbying for the creation of a dedicated property services commissioner.

The leader of The Small Business Party, Angela Vithoulkas, has welcomed Mr Adamson on board.

“I am delighted to welcome Gary as part of our team. I believe his extensive knowledge and experience both as a successful business owner and an REINSW Board member will contribute significantly to The Small Business Party.

Ms Vithoulkas says she is fully supportive of Mr Adamson's agenda.

"Gary is advocating for the creation of a dedicated NSW Property Services Commissioner, that will work with industry, not against it. Given property is the state’s biggest industry, and employing people in numerous small businesses, Gary’s specific agenda will have my full support.”

“Having Gary on board with us sends a strong message to the property industry that we are listening – we hear your concerns and we want to work with you to do something about it. Real estate touches all of us, no one will need to explain the current problems to would be first home buyer” says Vithoulkas.

As a party candidate, Mr Adamson will campaign for property services to be moved out of NSW Fair Trading and establish a dedicated Commissioner for the Property Services Industry. 

His role leading up to the State election is to advocate for the changes needed to reform the property services industry and drive that policy from and within the Small Business Party.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Small Business Party and to campaign for the property services industry. I have 43 years of industry experience, unquestionably, our current regulatory authority, Fair Trading, is the worst in my career. Fair Trading does not have the fundamental competencies, experience and ability to support the property service industry," Mr Adamson said.

“Property transactions always involve large sums of money and are by their very nature inherently complex. Consumers have the reasonable expectation that their service providers are properly educated, and the regulatory architecture protects them.

"Fair Trading, for its part pursues misguided philosophical views about the market and industry, and in doing so fails the consumer and those seeking a career in real estate practice – evident by the 80 per cent churn of professionals leaving the industry within their first 12 months.”

Related reading: "Baristas trained longer than real estate agents" REINSW calls for industry overhaul

REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin has been lobbying for the creation of a dedicated property services minister for some time.

“From my own coal face experience with Fair Trading, I can empathise with Gary’s frustrations.

"I find it deeply disturbing when an industry wants to improve itself that its regulatory authority does all in its power to prevent it. I can only assume that Gary’s decision to seek political office is driven by the industry’s reluctant capitulation with traditional lobbying efforts.”

The Small Business Party will also be campaigning for a reduction in the pointless red tape, and the prescriptive nature of the legislation as it relates to the property services industry.

"Stamp Duty, the rate of which has not been amended for 33 years is a significant impediment to home ownership – it’s high on our list for reform.

"The escalation in land tax which is making good businesses unviable needs urgent reform," Mr Adamson said.

Last year, REINSW launched a petition calling for the industry to move out from under NSW Fair Trading and place it under the direction of a dedicated Property Services Commissioner.

“We are seeking over 10,000 signatures, as this level of engagement means that a third of the profession is voicing their opinion and action would need to be taken,” Mr McKibbin said.

At the time of writing, it has over 2,400 signatures. 

Sign the "Gladys Berejiklian: Move Property Services Out of Fair Trading" petition here

Related reading:

REINSW resigns from Real Estate Reference Group

Industry body launches petition for property services minister

REINSW CEO blasts Fair Trading, calls for dedicated property minister