This year is a significant one for HIA as we celebrate our 80th year. In May, the HIA National Conference and the HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards are being held in Melbourne. This is an acknowledgment of Victoria's role as the original home of what is now HIA. I am looking forward to attending the conference, trade expo and related events and getting the chance to meet as many members as possible.

Unfortunately, as we celebrate the home building industry at the Conference, the Victorian government will be pushing reforms that will seriously damage good home building businesses. The Victorian Parliament will be debating the Building Legislation Amendment (Buyer Protection) Bill. HIA cannot support this Bill as it will fail to protect consumers from bad builders but will impose even more limits on good builders being paid for their work. Being paid on time is already a significant challenge for home builders and this legislation will only make that process worse. The only way this Bill will reduce the incidence of poor consumer outcomes is by reducing the number of homes being built.

Finally, I would like to note that HIA and other industry associations recently appeared before a Victorian Parliamentary Committee reviewing recent planning reforms. While these reforms are not perfect and more reform is needed, the planning amendments being reviewed are a positive step forward. That is why HIA supported these reforms and disagrees with proposals to have these amendments overturned by Parliament.

I hope to see many of you at the National Conference or related events.