ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG – QUESTION TIME – UNDERQUOTING AND BUILDING REFORMS – TUESDAY, 2 May
Today, during NSW Parliament Question Time, the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading & Minister for Building, Anoulack Chanthivong, answered a question on delays to the passage of the government’s underquoting and building reforms.
TRANSCRIPT/PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION TIME – TUESDAY, 2 JUNE 2026
MEMBER FOR LIVERPOOL: My question is to the Minister of Better Regulation and Fair Trading & Minister for Building. Can the Minister please detail for the house how prospective home buyers are still not being protected from unscrupulous real estate agents and building defects in NSW?
SPEAKER: Thank you. I call the Minister.
MINISTER FOR BETTER REGULATION AND FAIR TRADING & MINISTER FOR BUILDING: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I acknowledge the students from Macquarie Fields High School, and one of the former students of that fine school, in my electorate office. Goes to show what a great public education can provide for people in our community.
I thank the Member for Liverpool for her question.
Because buying a property is a significant, personal, emotional, and financial decision. Right now, somewhere in this state, a family is signing a contract on an apartment or gearing up for an auction without the protections they deserve. All because of ‘schoolyard politics’ by those opposite that’s getting in the way of this Government delivering practical and positive reforms.
Mr Speaker, The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of protecting home buyers in New South Wales. We’re delivering practical reforms that go straight to fairness, transparency, and accountability in the property market. These reforms will be make a positive difference to people’s lives.
Our Underquoting Penalties Bill, cracks down on agents who mislead buyers with a massive $110,000 fine and mandatory price guides to stamp out underquoting. Our Fair Trading and Building Bill finally delivers real safeguards against serious building defects, like those seen in the Mascot Towers fiasco. These reforms are not abstract, they actually save people money. These are practical reforms that families expect of their Government. I am happy to say that both Bills went through this House with bi-partisan support.
But Mr Speaker, here’s the central problem: The Opposition, ganging up with the Greens and Mark Latham, with their Upper House shenanigans are blocking the Government’s practical reforms to benefit home buyers in New South Wales. The Opposition are obsessed with political games – they no longer stand for anything.
Mr Speaker, it’s time for the Liberals and Nationals to show some leadership and get these Bills passed.
POINT OF ORDER FROM THE MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
Political tactics are holding up our Underquoting Penalties Bill which means buyers don’t know if the house that have their heart set on is in their price range; first-home buyers are wasting valuable time viewing properties that never fitted their budget; people are spending thousands of dollars on pre-auction inspection reports for a house they can’t afford; and families are skipping kids’ sport because they’re trudging to open inspections every Saturday for properties they never had a chance of buying.
EXTENSION OF TIME GRANTED
The Opposition can play their games in the Upper House but it’s homebuyers who are paying the price.
[But] Mr Speaker, maybe I’m being unfair. After all, one should never attribute to malice what can be attributed to ignorance. But in this situation, its actually both – malicious ignorance. So, let me tell them more about what they’re blocking in our Fair Trading and Building Bill: ten-year insurance for apartment buyers, that’s real protections against building defects like we saw in Mascot Towers. These defects cost people money.
The Opposition is making people’s lives harder by playing these political games. The people of New South Wales cannot afford this chaos.
We in the Government are focused on delivery and getting the job done. Unfortunately, we’re met with petty politics and games from the Liberals and Nationals joining forces with Mark Latham and the Greens.
Mr Speaker, I’ve heard of the tail wagging the dog. What we have here are the fleas, wagging the tail, wagging the dog. The most significant reforms we’ve seen in years to crack down on underquoting and to protect families from serious defects in apartment buildings. And those opposite sit there day by day letting Mark Latham and the Greens dictate their actions. I would tell you to be ashamed of yourselves but I can see you already are.
Mr Speaker, I wish I could say I was surprised. But this is who they are now. The Opposition no longer believe in anything anymore and they are letting the people of New South Wales down. Prove that you’re more than theatre and pull your mates in the Upper House into line. It’s what the people of New South Wales expect. It’s what the people of New South Wales deserve.
