Joint Statement - Liberals and Nationals secure expanded support for homebuilder collapse victims

Joint Statement – Liberals and Nationals secure expanded support for homebuilder collapse victims

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

Evan Mulholland, Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability

16 April 2024.

Victims of homebuilder collapses will receive the support they deserve following quiet confirmation the Liquidated Builders Customer Support Payment Scheme has been further expanded.

In March 2024, the Allan Labor Government announced an expansion of the scheme until 20 February 2024 – which excluded homebuyers left without Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) following the liquidation of Apex Homes on 28 February 2024.

Following consistent advocacy from the Victorian Liberals and Nationals, the Allan Labor Government has today confirmed this support scheme will be expanded to include any homebuyer whose construction company went into liquidation between 1 July 2022 and 28 February 2024.

Without this support, homebuyers with Apex Homes faced the prospect of losing their hard-earned deposits at no fault of their own.

The most recent extension is the third confirmed by the State Government, following advocacy from the Liberals and Nationals. Firstly, to include victims of the Hallbury Homes and Snowdon Developments in July 2023, then for victims of Montego Homes in March 2024 and now finally, for victims of Apex Homes.

Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability, Evan Mulholland, said: “This is the right outcome for Victorian homebuyers who have been let down by Labor’s failure to properly regulate this sector.

“The Allan Labor Government must now act to ensure compliance with Victoria’s compulsory domestic building insurance requirements and ensure this situation does not occur again.”

Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “From day one, the Liberals and Nationals pushed Jacinta Allan and Labor into properly covering victims of multiple rogue builder collapses. Labor has only covered victims after they were shamed into it and this recent extension has been announced under the cover of darkness.

“Whilst this expansion is a commonsense outcome in this situation, Labor needs to step up, properly protect homeowners from shoddy behaviour, and ensure that no more homebuyers lose their hard-earned savings if their builder goes under.”

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

Evan Mulholland, Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability