An Adelaide real estate boss has been stripped of his licence after a tribunal ruled he was not a “fit and proper person” to sell homes or manage properties.
The state’s consumer watchdog cancelled the registration of Robert Leendert De Jonge, 52, a former councillor and failed political candidate who traded as Dukes Real Estate.
But Mr De Jonge, a southern suburbs father-of-three from Happy Valley, “challenged” a Consumer and Business Services’ decision over 11 legal and professional breaches.
In a scathing judgment, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week criticised his lack of “honesty, rigour and discipline that could be reasonably expected by the community”.
The tribunal heard he admitted dozens of traffic fine “mistakes”.
Mr De Jonge, a former Onkaparinga councillorwho also failed to win a seat in parliament as an independent candidate at the 2010 election, claimed he was “100 per cent perfect” in his compliance and defended his breaches as “minor issues”.
The tribunal also laid bare his extraordinary driving record, revealing he had received more than 45 traffic fines and lost his licence eight times.
He instead viewed the fines as “simply as an occupational hazard” and, when disqualified, “takes the opportunity to travel overseas on holiday until he can drive again”.
Senior tribunal member Helen Ward said she was satisfied 11 allegations against Mr De Jonge, over a six-year period, were “substantially correct”.
These included failures to have proper written contracts and have trust accounts or records audited.
He also failed to return money held in trust and keep separate land agent and community title accounts.
Ms Ward said public confidence and trust “would be compromised” if he kept his licence.
She condemened him for persisting in “minimising, shrugging off and otherwise failing to take responsibility for his conduct” and his “general disregard for the law”.
“I have taken into account (Mr De Jonge’s) history of noncompliance of, and disregard for, the law and his lack of real insight, reform and rehabilitation,” she ruled.
“As a result, I cannot be satisfied that (he) is possessed of sufficient moral integrity and rectitude of character as to permit him to be safely accredited to the public … to be entrusted with the work of a registered land agent.”
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown warned: “We will not tolerate deliberate flouting of the law.”
CBS Commissioner Brett Humphrey said as property owners and tenants “put a tremendous amount of trust” in such managers his agency will take “appropriate action” for wrongdoers.
Mr De Jonge, who owned his business for 17 years, on Sunday said he would not appeal and would be forced to find a new job.
“I’m thinking of moving to Dubai and they will lose good people if they continue being so tough,” he said of the government.
“I don’t really get it. It’s a bit over the top. I will accept it.”
Complaints about licence holders failing to meet their obligations can be reported to CBS on 131 882.