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”The Victorian Government’s decision is only about improving the financial performance of the DBI scheme and is premature as the industry waits for the government to announce possible reforms to the scheme.
“This premium increase, which will directly add to the fees and charges paid by home buyers, will not be accompanied by any changes to the insurance benefits.
“The increase also adds to many challenges facing the residential building industry. This will do nothing to help deliver an increased number of desperately needed new homes.
“Home builder cashflow positions, already precariously thin under the weight of sustained pressure from rising building material and labour costs, will be further squeezed by the significant hike in DBI premiums.
“Builders want to stay competitive, but they will have little option but to factor the premium rise into the cost of a new dwelling and pass on to home buyers,” said Mr Ryan.
While acknowledging pressure on premiums has been building for some time due to VMIA’s growing claims exposure to builder insolvencies in recent years, Mr Ryan said the order of magnitude of the across-the-board increase from 1 September is unfair and without precedence.
The vast majority of Victorian builders are not triggering DBI claims and are continuing to complete homes for their clients despite the current challenges they all face.
“Last week’s decision by the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold provided a respite for the embattled residential building sector.
“This announcement has dented that relief and is a stark reminder to home builders that the cost of doing business in Victoria is getting harder, not easier," concluded Mr Ryan.
HIA has provided a further submission to the Closing the Loopholes Statutory Review on the release of the Draft Report, challenging the appropriateness of the government’s workplace relations reforms.
Today HIA launched its 2026 Victorian State Election Policy Agenda that calls on all political parties to commit to meaningful steps that will improve the challenging and uncertain environment for all who work in and rely on Victoria’s vitally important home building industry.
The ACT Government’s release of the Molonglo Town Centre Master Plan signals progress on one of Canberra’s key future growth areas, but for builders and developers, the reality is that this project will do little to improve current market conditions or near-term housing supply.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the passage of the Building Amendment Bill 2026 through the Tasmanian Parliament today, while noting that the final form of the legislation delivers a more limited outcome than originally proposed.