Tougher dummy bidding laws were introduced to the real-estate industry last weekend on one of the year's busiest auction days last Saturday. The NSW Government yesterday announced dummy bidders would be penalised as well as agents or auctioneers who participated in collusive practices during the auctioning of a property. Fines for breaching the dummy bid law will also increase to a maximum of $55,000. Fair Trading Minister Diane Beamer said introducing heavy penalties for people who make dummy or false bids during an auction would help strengthen the industry. "We decided to introduce amendments to the existing laws to make them clearer," Ms Beamer said. "We think changes lift the level of consumer confidence in the auction process. These laws also help lift the reputation of real-estate agents." Penalties were introduced in September 2003 as part of sweeping real-estate reforms that aimed to improve the industry's transparency and ethical standards, after concerns from buyers and sellers on the practice of bidding and estimated selling prices. The changes come at the height of spring, Sydney's busiest season for real estate. More than 200 properties were scheduled to go under the hammer yesterday. Cooley Auction Services director Damien Cooley had 14 properties listed. Mr Cooley said the increased penalties were a good initiative. "Anyone who is dealing with dummy bids, agent or auctioneer, vendor or buyer, deserves to be fined," he said. By Michelle Singer