Queensland Consolidated Acts

PROPERTY OCCUPATIONS ACT 2014 - SECT 12

12 Objects

(1) The objects of this Act are—

(a) to provide a system for licensing and regulating persons as property agents or resident letting agents and for registering and regulating persons as real estate salespersons that achieves an appropriate balance between—

(i) the need to regulate for the protection of consumers; and

(ii) the need to promote freedom of enterprise in the market place; and

(b) to provide a way of protecting consumers against particular undesirable practices associated with the promotion of residential property.

(2) The objects are to be achieved by—

(a) ensuring—

(i) only suitable persons with appropriate qualifications are licensed or registered; and

(ii) persons who carry on business or are in charge of a licensee’s business at a place under the authority of a licence maintain close personal supervision of the way the business is carried on; and

(b) providing—

(i) protection for consumers in their dealings with licensees and their employees; and

(ii) a legislative framework within which persons performing activities for licensees may lawfully operate; and

(c) regulating fees and commissions that can be charged for particular transactions; and

(d) providing protection for consumers in their dealings with marketeers; and

(e) providing for the enforcement of matters involving marketeers; and

(f) providing increased flexibility in enforcement measures through injunctions, undertakings, and, for contraventions by marketeers, preservation of assets and civil penalties; and

(g) promoting administrative efficiency by providing that—

(i) responsibility for licensing rests with the chief executive; and

(ii) responsibility for reviewing particular decisions of the chief executive rests with QCAT; and

(iii) responsibility for disciplinary matters rests with QCAT.