At the bus stop, two days ago, I met an elderly couple. She was nursing the glossy pamphlet of an estate agent.

The bus gave generously of its time, enough to chat and exchange pleasantries. I learned that they were selling their house, had already paid $5000 for expenses to the agent who would eventually retain an additional 3% of the price reached at auction.

Three decades ago agencies did not charge expenses. They couldn’t. The agent over the road, who didn’t charge expenses, would have gobbled the business.

In the following ten years both competing agent saw the light; ‘Corporation’

‘Corporation’ gave them the client on a plate.

Lucky the one who finds into whose pockets the $5000 drop!

As no other State government has protected us from the monopoly of estate agents why should Queensland’s