REAL ESTATE LICENSING

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:40): A supplementary question: given the minister believes that we got the balance right in 2008, will the government be working within the consultation to ensure that education standards for real estate agents are not reduced under NOLS?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:40): Those discussions are continuing. As I said, the goal is streamlining the process, reducing costs to the industry—and, of course, if we reduce costs to the industry that helps to keep costs down to consumers, and we know that cost of living is a big issue of concern for all of us. So, I think that we should consider in a very positive way any measure that helps us achieve this. That is what the goal of this system is, and we need to go to the table looking at the best way forward to ensure that we have a streamlined system, consumer protections and quality standards of operation.