Minister for innovation and better regulation

More than half the real estate agencies in Sydney's east targeted in a NSW Fair Trading blitz were found to have breached the law, prompting them to cop fines totalling more than $51,000.

About 20 real estate agencies were fined for non-compliance after investigators swooped on 32 businesses across Botany, Mascot, Bondi, Bondi Junction, Kingsford and Maroubra.

NSW Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean said the blitz was triggered by intelligence that suggested numerous real estate agents were not complying with the law.

Retirement village residents and their families will be better protected under new legislation that has passed Parliament.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the NSW Coalition implemented a number of reforms recommended by Kathryn Greiner AO, following her independent inquiry into the retirement village sector last year.

“For too long, retirees and their families have been taken advantage of by some in the industry and frankly, I’m sick of it,” Mr Kean said.

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley has been caught misleading consumers and long-term caravan park residents about how much they can be charged for electricity.

Mr Daley has promised to change the law to stop residential land lease operators charging residents more for electricity than the rate the operator has to pay to the utility service provider.

Sub-contractors and their families will have better financial security thanks to new laws which passed the NSW Parliament overnight.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the security of payment laws will help stop subbies being left out of pocket for work completed each month.

“All too often we hear about families falling behind or missing out entirely because they weren’t paid by the head contractor who hired them to do the work,” Mr Kean said.

Tenants and small business owners around NSW will benefit from a $41 million savings boost after the final part of the NSW Coalition’s Better Business Reforms passed Parliament today.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the latest reforms will improve the rental bond system, repeal a range of redundant statutes and simplify uncollected goods laws.

“My Better Business Reforms are cutting red tape and putting more savings back into the pockets of hard working small business owners around NSW,” Mr Kean said.

A blitz on silicosis has resulted in 114 notices to cease work or improve practices, as part of a nation leading NSW Government program to combat the terrible disease.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said SafeWork inspectors launched the blitz in October 2017, and had already undertaken 358 compliance visits across NSW. 

“Silicosis is an awful disease that can have a huge impact on businesses and families across the State,” Mr Kean said.

Riding for the Disabled, the University of Sydney and a number of innovative construction businesses are just some of the workplaces recognised as the safest in NSW for 2018.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean congratulated the winners of the 2018 SafeWork Awards, which are setting the benchmark for providing safe workplaces around the State.

“Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, regardless of their industry, occupation or background,” Mr Kean said.

Consumers and small business owners around the State will save more than half a billion dollars over 10 years thanks to the NSW Coalition’s sweeping Better Business Reforms.

The package of reforms, which passed Parliament this week, includes significant red tape reductions for small businesses and better transparency measures for consumers.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said it’s the biggest shakeup of NSW consumer law in more than three decades.

Laws strengthening the NSW government's powers to regulate building certifiers, including much larger penalties for dodgy ­operators, have passed parliament and will soon come into effect.

After several controversial developments were found to have been given the all-clear by certifiers, who issued “occupation certificates” before the buildings were ready, the NSW government sought to close down “loopholes” and combat a perception of conflicts of interest in the industry.