In what has been by far the most extensive negotiation ever undertaken, the PSAQ, in cooperation with six other real estate industrial associations and the Real Estate Institute of Australia, has just submitted to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) a proposed modern Federal award for the real estate industry.
This process has been under way for more than two years and was led, nationally, by the PSAQ.
Of the 4000 awards currently being reviewed at a Federal level, the real estate associations have done something not one other industry has managed to achieve - submit a proposed modern award to which all representative parties have agreed.
This outcome is consistent with the PSAQ's ongoing, long-term commitment to industrial cooperation, and whilst the PSAQ has taken the lead, it cannot take all the credit - every association and every individual involved has made a very substantial contribution.
It is therefore important that the PSAQ expresses its appreciation to all parties, for the goodwill they have brought to the process.
In addition to the PSAQ, the employee associations involved in the negotiations are:
- Real Estate Association of New South Wales
- Real Estate Salespersons' Association of South Australia
The employer associations are:
- Real Estate Employers' Association (Queensland)
- Real Estate Employers' Federation (NSW)
- Real Estate Employers' Federation (SA)
- Real Estate Employers' Federation (WA)
Please Note:
The reason other states are not represented is that they do not have associations exclusively representing the industrial interests of the real estate industry.
Implications of the Proposed Modern Award
The modern real estate industry award, if approved by the AIRC, is due to become operational from 1 January 2010. There are numerous detail changes the proposed award introduces, but some of the most significant are as follows:
- Everyone in Queensland's real estate industry (and almost everyone nationally) will become subject to a standard set of minimum employment conditions - unlike the six or seven possible scenarios that currently exist.
- One of the most significant changes compared to the current situation is that there will be mandatory motor vehicle and telephone allowances for all wage-earning employees (i.e. these allowances will not apply to those paid by commission-only).
- It is also proposed that commission-only employment for salespeople will be allowed to continue, but with more-rigorous qualifying criteria than what has existed before.
Download the Submission
In support of the proposed award, the real estate associations have also prepared an extensive submission to the AIRC.
- Click here to download the submission (including the proposed award)
Please Note:
You will need Acrobat Reader installed to download the submission.
