  Monday, 9 Aug 2010Master Builders launches Greens Policies Awareness Campaign
The campaign is in response to members’ concerns about the future prosperity of Australia under a Greens controlled Federal Senate. |
Tuesday, 13 Jul 2010Committee Elections!
Master Builders Sector Committee Elections will be taking place in early August with the electoral closing on 16 July. Members interested in nominating should contact Asher Judah on 9411-4515 or ajudah@mbav.com.au for more info about the process. |
Tuesday, 18 May 2010Home Warranty Insurance (HWI) - Agreement with QBE
The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) has entered into an agreement with QBE Insurance under which the VMIA will provide Home Warranty Insurance (HWI). Builders who have held domestic building insurance eligibility with an authorised insurer for work in Victoria at any time since 1 January, 2009, will automatically be eligible for cover from the VMIA. |
Wednesday, 14 Apr 2010Final Reminder – Housing Awards
The 2010 Excellence in Housing Awards entries close Friday, 23 April. Download an entry form www.mbav.com.au. For further info contact Lisa Sacco on 9411 4595. |
Wednesday, 17 Mar 2010Bad Weather – Get Insurance Work
Master Builders is compiling a database of builders (not already involved with insurers) interested in recovery work following the bad weather across Victoria. Info will be passed on to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). Please fill-out this form, and return via fax 9419-3800 or email to mbassist@mbav.com.au. |
| Friday, 5 Mar 2010 |
Wednesday, 17 Feb 2010UPDATE - Home Warranty Insurance Market
Insurance company Vero has announced plans to withdraw from the Home Warranty Insurance (HWI) market, taking effect 1 July 2010. This follows CGU and Lumley exiting in 2009 |
Thursday, 3 Dec 2009Industry Groups Unite to Reject GAIC Levy -
Master Builders has united with four other industry associations to express the building industry’s opposition to the Growth Area Infrastructure Levy (GAIC). See this report in The Age newspaper. |
Wednesday, 18 Nov 2009Building Trends Survey -
Don’t forget to fill-out the final Building Trends surveys for 2009! The surveys help Master Builders lobby on behalf of your business more effectively. This quarter’s surveys focus on issues such as the State Election and Credit Access issues. To take-part, click the relevant link below:
• Housing members
• General Contractors |
Monday, 19 Oct 2009Draft GAIC Bill Released
The Planning Minister has released draft Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) legislation. It is now available for public comment; with the consultation period to close on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 5pm. Master Builders Deputy Executive Director Radley de Silva commented “the Bill is an improvement on what was proposed previously and we will examine the detail.” |
Wednesday, 12 Aug 2009Housing Finance Up -
Loans for construction and purchase of new dwellings continued to grow in June - increasing 1.5 per cent in Victoria, with low interest rates and the First Home Owner ‘boost’ underpinning demand. |
Tuesday, 14 Jul 2009CGU and Lumley Withdraw from Home Warranty Market -
Two major insurers have announced plans to withdraw from the Home Warranty Insurance market, which will impact upon all builders utilising their Home Warranty Insurance products. Master Builders has been informed that insurers CGU and Lumley will exit the market in coming months. CGU’s exit will take effect on 30 November 2009 and Lumley’s from 1 January 2010. |
 Thursday, 18 Jun 2009Feedback Wanted: Accessibility Regs
Master Builders needs your input on the State Government’s proposed Accessibility Regulations. To help determine the costs associated with applying the standards to a new home, please complete this form and return to ajudah@mbav.com.au or fax to 9411 4591 (by Wednesday, 25 June). |
Monday, 25 May 2009Social Housing Initiative: Phase Two
Phase two of the Australian Government’s $1.5 billion Social Housing Initiative is now underway and registrations of interest for development sites and turnkey projects are now being accepted. |
Thursday, 16 Apr 2009Maximise your Chance of Government Work!
Particular OHS requirements may be needed in order to take on work funded through the Government’s $42 billion Stimulus Package. Master Builders is holding seminars where you will find out how to take advantage of the Nation Building Program and satisfy prequalification requirements. Cost: Member $30, Member/Incolink $0. Time: 4pm-6pm. For more info 9411 4555 .
• Wodonga – 27 April
• Lilydale – 29 April
• Traralgon – 4 May |
Wednesday, 18 Mar 2009New Bushfire Building Regs -
Practice Notes on the new Bushfire Regulations are now available and free industry and public forums will be conducted by the Building Commission. A quick guide to building after the fires is also now available. |
Monday, 23 Feb 2009Building Trends Survey
Housing members - don’t forget to fill out the March quarter Building Trends survey! The survey helps Master Builders serve your business better. To access the survey, click here. |
Wednesday, 10 Dec 2008Transport Plan a Good Move for Victoria
Master Builders has welcomed the Victorian Transport Plan announced by the State Government recently. The plan includes additional funding for outer suburban and regional rail links, major road corridors and important truck transport links which will help boost Victoria’s economy and improve business efficiency. |
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008Another Rate Cut to Bolster Confidence -
The building industry has welcomed the 75 basis point (0.75 per cent) interest rate cut by the RBA last week. The big four banks have since passed-on most of the cut, around 60 basis points, to borrowers. |
Wednesday, 15 Oct 2008First Home Buyers Grant Tripled
Federal Government has announced an economic ‘kick-start’ which includes tripling the first home buyers grant from $7,000 to $21,000 for those buying a newly constructed home. Master Builders has welcomed the announcement here. |
| Thursday, 18 Sep 2008Economic turbulence has dominated headlines this week after US investment bank Lehman Brothers announced its bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch, another key US investment institution, revealed that it had been sold to the Bank of America. These two corporations are the latest victims of the credit crisis which began in the US housing SubPrime market. Problems have also spread to other sectors of the US and global economy, such as insurer AIG. Click here to view the Special Edition of eNews. |
Wednesday, 20 Aug 2008Glenvill Decision Appealed – Contract Implications.
It was reported recently that in the matter of the Director of Consumer Affairs v Glenvill Homes, the Magistrates’ Court ruled that preliminary works contracts were not “domestic building contracts”. We have now learned that the Director has sought leave to appeal this decision in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Until this question is resolved again, the legal position of builders entering contracts for preliminary work with domestic clients is unclear. Master Builders strongly recommends that members obtain legal advice before entering such contracts. For more information, contact Master Builders Legal Services on 9411 4548. |
| Tuesday, 29 Jul 2008Economy Watch aims to provide members with an overview of the Australian and global economic environment, focusing on how different developments in these areas affect the Victorian building sector. Outlined below is a short overview of the key factors (good and bad) affecting builders during 2008-09. We hope it is of value to your business. |
Wednesday, 23 Jul 2008Housing Finance Drops Nationally in May
Another big drop in home lending nationally in May is the fourth consecutive monthly decline, potentially due to interest rate rises and higher petrol prices. The number of loans issued in Victoria fell by 9.5% in May. The consequence of this reduction in lending remains to be seen, particularly as Victoria appears to enjoy strong demand for new dwellings. In the 12 months to March, there were 41,000 homes started in Victoria, an increase of six percent on the previous year. |
Monday, 30 Jun 2008New Regional First Home Bonus – State Budget...
The State Government has announced $3 million for a new First Home Bonus for Regional Victorians. The bonus is worth $3,000 and will be available to first home buyers who buy newly constructed homes in regional Victoria. This is a great result for regional builders who are experiencing a slow down in demand as a result of recent interest rate rises and drought. |