Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool) (12:30): My question is addressed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, and Minister for Building. Will the Minister please detail how prospective home buyers are still not being protected from unscrupulous real estate agents and building defects in New South Wales?
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (12:31): I acknowledge the students from Macquarie High School who have just left the gallery. I also acknowledge a former student of that fine school in my local electorate. It goes to show what 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 emotional, personal and financial decision. It really is one of the biggest decisions many of us will make in our lifetimes. Right now, somewhere in New South Wales, a family is signing a contract or gearing up for an auction without the protections they deserve. All because of what? All because of the Opposition's schoolyard politics getting in the way of this Government's practical reforms, which will make a positive difference to people's lives. The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of protecting home buyers across New South Wales. We are delivering practical reforms that go to fairness, transparency and accountability in the property market.
These reforms will make a positive difference to home buyers because our Property and Stock Agents Amendment (Underquoting and Other Agent Conduct) Bill 2026 cracks down on agents who mislead buyers with a massive $110,000 fine. Mandatory price guides will stamp out the poor practice of underquoting. Our Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 finally delivers the safeguards against serious building defects like those seen in the Mascot Towers fiasco. These reforms are not abstract; they save people money. They are what New South Wales families expect from their Government. I am happy to say that both of these bills passed this House with bipartisan support, but there is an essential problem. The Opposition is ganging up with Mark Latham and The Greens. Its upper House shenanigans are blocking the Government's practical reforms to protect home buyers across New South Wales.
The SPEAKER: Members will come to order.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: The Opposition is obsessed with political gains. It no longer stands for anything. It is time for the Liberals and Nationals to show some leadership and get these bills passed.
Mr James Griffin: Point of order: My point of order is on relevance. The answer is way off the question.
The SPEAKER: The Minister is being relevant to the question. The member for Manly will resume his seat.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: It is about time the Liberals and Nationals showed some leadership and let these bills pass. Political tactics are holding up the underquoting penalties bill, which means that buyers do not know if the house they have their heart set on buying is actually within their price range. [Extension of time]
First home buyers are wasting valuable time viewing properties that were never in their budget. People are spending thousands of dollars on pre-inspection reports on houses they cannot afford and families are missing kids sport on Saturdays because they are going to auctions for houses they never had a chance of buying. The Opposition can play all the games it wants in the upper House, but it is the home buyers of New South Wales who are paying the price. Maybe I am being a little bit unfair. After all, we should never attribute malice to what can be attributed to ignorance. In this case, it is malicious ignorance.
The Fair Trading and building bill provides for a 10-year insurance product for apartment buyers, which is real protection against building detects like those we saw in Mascot Towers. These defects cost people money. The Opposition is making people's lives harder by playing games. The people of New South Wales cannot afford this chaos. The Government is focused on delivery. Unfortunately, all we are met with is petty politics. The Liberals and Nationals gang up with Mark Latham and The Greens to obfuscate and to ensure that bills are not passed. I have heard of the tail wagging the dog but the fleas are wagging the tail wagging the dog. The most significant reform the Government wants to deliver to protect home buyers across New South Wales is being stalled. Those opposite are playing politics with people's lives—
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Badgerys Creek to order for the first time.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: While we are trying to help people get into the housing market, members opposite let Mark Latham and The Greens dictate their actions. I would say they should be ashamed of themselves, but I can see in their faces that they already are. The Opposition no longer believes in anything at all anymore.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Goulburn to order for the second time.
