Master Builders Victoria analysis of Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) insolvency figures shows that 19 Victorian building and construction companies entered external administration in August 2021.

The figures show there were 360 building and construction insolvencies recorded in Victoria for the 12 months to August 2021, four less than NSW, which recorded a nationwide high of 364 insolvencies.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) has welcomed the full return of building and construction in Victoria later this week as the Victorian community moves towards the 70 per cent vaccination target.

MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said today’s announcement from the Victorian Government was terrific news for the building and construction industry, particularly for MBV’s small-scale construction and renovation members.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) has welcomed the announcement from the Victorian Government that the renovation sector is permitted to return to work inside occupied premises once 70 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated.

As the industry-leading body for building and construction in Victoria, MBV has continued to strongly advocate to the Victorian Government over the plight of its renovation members.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) has called for the renovation sector to be immediately permitted to return to work inside occupied premises, or at the very minimum, return when 70 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated.

As the industry-leading body for building and construction in Victoria, MBV has been strongly advocating to the Victorian Government in recent weeks over the plight of the renovation sector, which is still not permitted to work inside occupied premises.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) welcomes the Victorian Government’s recently launched Victorian Homebuyer Fund (VHF) to support more Victorians to buy their own home.

However, MBV is concerned that the fund does not address increasing concerns surrounding housing affordability.

The Victorian Government says the $500 million fund will assist up to 3,000 Victorians to become homeowners.

The Victorian Government has appointed Master Builders Victoria CEO Rebecca Casson as one of the inaugural members of its newly formed Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) Advisory Board.

The VSA was established in July 2021 and is a key response to the recommendations in Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy, led by former Federal Minister Jenny Macklin. The Authority will lead a revitalised approach to skills and training through the development of an annual Victorian Skills Plan to better guide the State’s training delivery.

The Andrews Government’s latest proposed property tax will exacerbate Victoria’s housing affordability crisis and make home ownership even more difficult for many Victorian families, according to Australia’s leading industry groups.

The Property Council of Australia, Housing Industry Association, Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) and Master Builders Victoria have joined forces to oppose the Windfall Gains Tax which was introduced to the Victorian Parliament today.

The building and construction industry has enjoyed a strong return to work, with the overwhelming majority of builders and tradespeople doing the right thing and workers showing a willingness to get vaccinated and abide by new health directions.

Nevertheless, the newly introduced COVID-19 protocols and procedures for the sector are still in their infancy, and a gap has been identified related to maintenance and service workers transiting through building and construction worksites.

Industry bodies and unions from Victoria’s building, construction and development sector have today launched a new website - www.constructionvaccinehub.com.au - to provide clear and concise COVID-19 vaccination information for their members. 

The website provides details about vaccinations, links to where workers can get vaccinated, and multilingual resources for members to promote vaccinations in 16 languages.

When international borders closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, it was widely expected that house prices would fall sharply due to a sudden decrease in demand.

However, recently released ABS data has demonstrated that house prices increased by 15.6 per cent in Melbourne and 20 per cent in regional Victoria over the year to August 2021.

In the same period, unit prices in Melbourne and regional Victoria saw an increase of 7.3 per cent and 22.3 per cent respectively. 

Prices are now expected to continue to increase into next year.