March has been a significant month for our sector, and SCA (NSW) has been at the forefront.
On March 24, we welcomed the release of the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of the Market Impacts of Prohibiting Conflicting Payments. Commissioner Achterstraat’s final report examined four options and delivered seven recommendations, including a prohibition on strata managers accepting commissions, a three-year, phased transition period to minimise impacts and support industry adjustment and a subsequent reduction in regulatory burden for strata managers by removing the requirement to seek three quotes for insurance.
The SCA (NSW) Board will be meeting in April to review its current position on the voluntary phase out of insurance commissions. To help members prepare, we have now held eight workshops, including the most recent session I attended in Newcastle on 26 March, with more than 220 participants engaged to date. We now await Minister Chanthivong’s consideration of the report’s recommendations.
On March 18, Minister Chanthivong introduced the Property and Stock Agents Amendment (Underquoting and Other Agent Conduct) Bill 2026 to the NSW Legislative Assembly. While the bill’s primary focus is underquoting in the real estate sector, it also proposes new powers to direct strata managing agents to undertake further education and training instead of issuing a PIN, reforms to approve a standard form agency agreement and the Continuing Professional Development provider framework.
Three pieces of strata related legislation are presently being debated in Parliament, including the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025 and Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment 2026 which are set for further Legislative Council debate in May. SCA (NSW) has actively contributed feedback to all three, supporting sensible reform where necessary and pushing back where proposals clearly overreached. My thanks go to our Policy & Legislation Committee, led by Matthew Jenkins, for their substantial work in shaping our submissions.
Comments and submissions are now being sought on SCA (NSW)’s proposed new Professional Standards Scheme application. All members are encouraged to make a submission in support of our application by the close of business on Friday, April 24.
On March 5, we celebrated International Women’s Day at the Art Gallery of NSW. It was a wonderful afternoon recognising the advancement, leadership, and inclusion of women across our state’s strata sector. Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking this important occasion.
I wish all our members a safe and enjoyable breaks for Easter and Anzac Day.
Regards
Robert Anderson
SCA (NSW) President
