{"id":3022,"date":"2022-07-08T02:34:23","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T02:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royabhishek.in\/urbanbuyer\/reiq-launches-blistering-attack-on-bullying-sordid-national-industry-body\/"},"modified":"2022-07-08T02:34:23","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T02:34:23","slug":"reiq-launches-blistering-attack-on-bullying-sordid-national-industry-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royabhishek.in\/urbanbuyer\/reiq-launches-blistering-attack-on-bullying-sordid-national-industry-body\/","title":{"rendered":"REIQ launches blistering attack on \u2018bullying, sordid\u2019 national industry body"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A bitter war of words has erupted between the real estate industry\u2019s peak representative body, the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), and its estranged non-member state body, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).<\/p>\n

In response to a publicly issued plea from the REIA for the REIQ to rejoin the national body that it parted from in 2015, the REIQ on Thursday (7 July) accused the REIA of resorting to \u201cbullying and calculated, underhanded tactics in an endeavour to destabilise the REIQ\u2019s solid membership foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The REIQ claimed to be in possession of leaked documents outlining \u201cthe REIA\u2019s sordid campaign\u201d and refuted the REIA\u2019s official assertion that the REIQ was the only Australian real estate institute (REI) not to be a member of the national body.<\/p>\n

The REIA insisted in discussions with Australian Property Investor Magazine<\/em> on Friday that all other states and territories were still members and denied the claim by the REIQ that \u201cat least one other REI is no longer a member of the REIA.\u201d<\/p>\n

We find ourselves confronted with an industry dummy spit that is demeaning and embarrassing..<\/span>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

–\u00a0REIQ statement<\/p>\n

REIQ\u2019s withdrawal from the national body seven years ago was based on financial considerations.<\/p>\n

The state body, under the leadership of chief executive Antonia Mercorella, said that REIA restructuring to become more cost effective had not gone far enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut simply, the REIA wasn\u2019t offering value for money and the REIQ could not justify the exorbitant annual $300,000 membership and associated fees that offered little or no value to our boots on the ground members,\u201d the REIQ statement said.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur stakeholders rightly expect us to utilise our precious and limited financial and human resources to best serve all concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe REIQ acknowledges the REIA has since made some progress in restructuring its operations to be more cost effective, however, it remains our view the REIA\u2019s focus is misaligned to what a truly effective national body should be, and it is still not in our interests and the interests of our membership to re-join.\u201d<\/p>\n

The REIA countered, telling API Magazine<\/em>\u00a0these claims were exaggerated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last time REIQ was offered to re-join REIA in 2021 their annual fee would have been $159,479 per annum, which represents an annual cost per state member agency of $149 a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The REIQ statement went on to criticise the REIA\u2019s culture, communications and member service.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe REIA\u2019s recent poor behaviour, and unkind communications strategy only reinforces the reasons why the REIQ issued our resignation, as have other REIs during their history, noting lack of value and poor REIA member experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cREIQ representatives recently offered to meet with the REIA to no avail, and instead we find ourselves confronted with an industry dummy spit that is demeaning and embarrassing, not only for the REIA but for the real estate industry as a whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoving forward, it\u2019s hoped the REIA takes a hard look at its governing culture and operations and addresses internal issues which have led to the REIQ and other REI\u2019s leaving its ranks over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

REIA slashed costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The REIA, headed by its President Hayden Groves, responded by saying it was \u201cdisappointing that a non-member body of REIA has chosen to respond in this way and remain isolated on the national stage\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is their choice and we respect that,\u201d the national body added.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur firm focus is on restoring national representation to REIA and ensuring Queenslanders have input into our work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The REIA, which will mark its 100th anniversary in 2024, said costs for members had nearly halved since the REIQ withdrew from the national scene in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that time, REIQ\u2019s cost per agency member to contribute to REIA was around $200 per year, whereas today, it would be far less.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegrettably, all attempts to re-engage REIQ since 2015 have ultimately failed,\u201d the REIA said.<\/p>\n

Queensland\u2019s recalcitrance in regards to re-entering the national fold has prompted the REIA to go it alone in the state with its own representative.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must look beyond the limitations of the current federated model to achieve our core business and ensure true two-way national representation,\u201d the REIA said in its online Statement on Queensland<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The statement outlined its plan by saying, \u201cTo this effect, in order to best represent and work for Queensland nationally, REIA will:\u00a0<\/p>\n