[2023] ACAT 26
General information, not legal advice.
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
2023-05-01
Commissioner For
Original judgment source is linked above.
COMMISSIONER FOR FAIR TRADING v IVAN TASIC (Occupational Discipline) [2023] ACAT 26
Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL DISCIPLINE - licensed real estate agent - where agent unlawfully took funds from the trust account for private purposes - all funds repaid - no impact on clients - apparent gambling addiction - orders sought by Commissioner - disqualification from applying for a real estate agent's licence - public or private reprimand
Legislation cited: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 ss 9, 38, 39, 65, 66
legislation cited: Agents Regulation 2003 schedule 8
Cases cited: Commissioner for Fair Trading v Blinksell [2014] ACAT 11
Commissioner for Fair Trading v Giersch [2016] ACAT 153
Commissioner for Fair Trading v Lamaro [2017] ACAT 1
Commissioner for Fair Trading v McPherson [2017] ACAT 6
Commissioner for Fair Trading v Property Plaza [2019] ACAT 109
Commissioner for Fair Trading v Yes Real Estate [2019] ACAT 103
(a) a statement of facts agreed between the parties; > > (b) documents supplied as evidence, including the respondent's licences, correspondence, bank statements, a record of an interview with Mr Tasic by investigators in Access Canberra, and documents associated with the criminal charge laid against Mr Tasic (all these papers compiled as an annexure to the agreed statement of facts, comprising 56 pages, and identified in this decision by page numbers (2-57)); > > (c) submissions by the ACT Government Solicitor, for the applicant, and by the respondent; > > (d) a letter of support for the respondent from Ms Eliza Tasic, his wife.
(a) whether there is a ground made out for occupational discipline against Mr Tasic; and > > (b) if so, what occupational discipline orders, if any, should be made.
(a) the agent has contravened, or is contravening, the fair trading legislation; > > (b) the agent has contravened, or is contravening, a rule of conduct;
(c) the agent has contravened, or is contravening, a condition of the agent's licence;
(d) if the agent is a licensed agent--the agent has become ineligible for a licence under section 24 (Eligibility for licences) or for registration under section 49 (Eligibility for registration);
(e) the agent has contravened, or is contravening, an order of the ACAT;
(f) the agent's licence was obtained by fraud or mistake;
(g) a ground prescribed by regulation for this section.
7. Section 42 of the Agents Act provides that:
If the commissioner for fair trading believes on reasonable grounds that a ground for occupational discipline exists in relation to an agent, the commissioner may apply to the ACAT for an occupational discipline order in relation to the agent.
(a) whether the person took reasonable steps to avoid the action (the contravention) that is the ground for occupational discipline; > > (b) whether occupational discipline has previously been used against the person for a similar act; > > (c) whether the person has taken steps to mitigate the effect of the contravention; > > (d) the impact of the contravention on any other person; > > (e) the likelihood that the person will act in a way that is a ground for occupational discipline in the future; > > (f) whether the entity bringing the application has applied for particular occupational discipline to be used and, if so, the kind of occupational discipline applied for.
Example - par (c) > > the person has changed a method of work or given a direction to staff to prevent further contraventions
Note Section 65 sets out when the tribunal may make an order.
(a) reprimand the person; > > (b) require the person to give a written undertaking; > > (c) require the person to complete a stated course of training to the satisfaction of the regulatory body or another stated person; > > (d) give the person a direction; > > Note For directions that may be given, see s 67.
(e) cancel or suspend the person's licence or registration;
(f) disqualify the person from applying for a licence, or registration, of a stated kind for a stated period or until a stated thing happens;
_(g) if a regulatory body may put conditions on the person's licence or registration under an authorising law - direct the regulatory body to - _
(i) put a condition on the person's licence or registration; or
(ii) remove or amend a condition put on the person's licence or registration;
(h) require the person to pay to the Territory or someone else a stated amount (not more than any amount prescribed by regulation);
(i) if the person gained financial advantage from the action that is the ground for occupational discipline - require the person to pay to the Territory an amount assessed as the amount of financial advantage gained by the person.
regulatory body means the entity responsible for issuing licences of the kind held by the subject person or for registering people in the occupation or profession in which the subject person is registered.
Whether the person took reasonable steps to avoid the action that is the ground for occupational discipline
Whether occupational discipline has previously been used against the person for a similar act
Whether the person has taken steps to mitigate the effect of the contravention
The impact of the contravention on any other person
The likelihood that the person will act in a way that is a ground for occupational discipline in the future
Whether the entity bringing the application has applied for particular occupational discipline to be used and, if so, the kind of occupational discipline applied for
The tribunal may consider any other relevant matter
15 August 2023 Replacing the words "under the Edge Real Estate name" with the words "as Edge Ivan Tasic" in paragraph 13.
[12] Agents Regulation 2003, schedule 8, rule 8.2
[13] Agents Regulation 2003, schedule 8, rule 8.3
[14] Agents Regulation 2003, schedule 8, rule 8.4
[15] Agents Regulation 2003, schedule 8, rule 8.10
[16] ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008, section 9
[17] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 2
[18] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 3
[19] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 3
[20] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 5
[21] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 5
[22] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 4
[23] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 6-33
[24] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 34
[25] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 37-52, record of interview transcript; the transcript is headed "ACT Gambling and Racing Commission" but it is not clear if that Commission had any involvement in the interview, or was otherwise involved in the investigation
[26] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, page 53
[27] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 56-7
[28] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 45-47, record of interview transcript
[29] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 46-47, record of interview transcript
[30] Agreed statement of facts, 19 December 2022, annexure A, pages 8-9
[31] The Commissioner's submission states that Mr Tasic applied for renewal of his licence but I do not appear to have any evidence to that effect.
COMMISSIONER FOR FAIR TRADING
IVAN TASIC