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A South Australia real estate agent has lost her land agent licence for at least the next six months for being abusive towards tenants, real estate agents, public servants and police.
Hayley Marley-Duncan was also fined $7,500 and ordered to undergo anger management training.
The commissioner for consumer affairs took the disciplinary proceedings against her in the district court after it received numerous complaints about her conduct.
The court was told Ms Marley-Duncan referred to one of her tenants as a “Centrelink dweller”, and she also accused tribunal members of being “incompetent” and labelled police on social media as “lying corrupt maggots”.
Ms Marley-Duncan also disclosed personal information about her tenants in an interview with a TV journalist at the site of a triple murder. She then hurled abuse at a police officer at the scene.
In his judgment, Judge Paul Slattery said there was no justification for her actions, and that she failed to respond to earlier warnings.
“Despite these warnings, she did not change her behaviour as an agent... these proceedings have not led her to reflect on her behaviour, to gain any insight into her behaviour or to change it,” Judge Slattery said.
“I have not been able to identify any indication of remorse, insight or steps taken to ensure that the behaviour is not repeated.
“The conduct of Duncan as an agent is very serious... she has shown that she is not a fit and proper person to be registered as an agent.”
South Australia’s commissioner for consumer affairs, Dini Soulio, said there are clear rules for how you should behave when conducting business.
“All real estate agents are bound by the Code of Conduct and are expected to act in an appropriate, professional manner,” he said.
“Her behaviour was unprofessional, offensive and abusive, and I would hope that this outcome serves as a clear warning to all real estate agents and property managers to conduct themselves in a professional manner.”
