Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that Queensland body corporate managers (BCM) conduct a private business in the strata industry however, they are not regulated by Government authorities. For example, an individual working as a butcher one day may decide overnight to hang up a shingle and work as a Queensland body corporate manager the next day. 

Strata Owners need consumer protection, as our funds are at risk. Given that lawyers and real estate agents have strongly regulated trust account management, so too, Qld body corporate managers must be regulated. Regulation should include licensing, registration and financial training in order to manage the Administration and Sinking Funds, and bodies corporate bank term deposits.

Financial auditing should be conducted by a recognised authority, as is the auditing of lawyers trust accounts by the Queensland Law Society.

Industry knowledge of the Body Corporate & Community Management Act (1997) and subordinate legislation; Accommodation, Standard, Commercial, Small & Two Lot Schemes, is required. Yet current Body Corporate Managers are not trained in legislation, as are lawyers and real estate agents. Legislative training is also required so as to lighten the dispute work-load of the Body Corporate & Community Management Commission.

A change of name is also necessary, as ordinary owners hand over their rights and entitlements believing BCMs to be employees of the Government Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate & Community Management.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to urgently regulate body corporate managers.