Advocacy Round Up

National

Strata insurance has sustained as a policy issue that is of the highest priority nationally, particularly in an environment where there is significant cost of living pressures, and fringe actors continue to engage in poor insurance practices that undermine confidence in the strata and insurance industries.

SCA is particularly looking forward to the release of their comprehensive strata insurance disclosure best practice guide, which seeks to influence improved communication, documentation, and disclosure of strata insurance policy information for consumers.

Similarly, SCA is committed to addressing issues surrounding debt recovery and financial assistance, as more and more owners corporations across the country are experiencing financial pressures. In particular, SCA is focused on the production of educational materials regarding financial assistance options, as well as supporting the introduction of legislative adjustments across all jurisdictions.

Australian Capital Territory

SCA (ACT) has been a significant contributor to the government’s recent electric vehicle (EV) agenda, which has included numerous submissions, meetings, and appearances before government. Encouragingly, the ACT Government’s latest report into EV adoption featured a significant amount of SCA (ACT)’s rhetoric and recommendations from their work, exhibiting the positive effects of proactive advocacy in the area.

In that same vein, the ACT Government recently introduced a landmark Residential Strata EV Ready Pilot Study, in a constructive attempt to seek to understand the scale and cost of the challenges associated with EV integration into strata buildings in the ACT. SCA (ACT) remains committed to supporting the government in their leading attempts to propel the ACT into a greener future, utilising the strata sector to do so.

New South Wales

SCA (NSW) has upheld its steadfast commitment to ensuring the strata sector in NSW remains at the forefront of the NSW Government’s consideration. The association has continued to maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders to strengthen the sector, including the Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, and the newly appointed Strata and Property Services Commissioner, John Minns.

As a key contributor in shaping the first phase of strata reforms, SCA (NSW) was extensively involved in the consultation and development process for the consequential and long-anticipated Strata Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. SCA (NSW) is enthusiastic about the transformative changes it supports, including the prohibition of pet fees, disclosure of conflicts of interests, and granting NSW Fair Trading the authority to request the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to appoint a compulsory strata managing agent.

New Zealand

Following a period of intense advocacy as a result of the implementation of the Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2022, SCA (NZ) awaits the results of submissions and engagement directly with Government in regard to the introduction of the Unit Titles Act Regulatory changes.

Notably, New Zealand recently introduced a new government into parliament. SCA (NZ) is committed to working to develop a strong relationship with the incoming administration, to help ensure that the strata industry remains a well-managed and respected component of the national housing market.

Queensland

SCA (Qld) has recently maintained a strong focus on proactive stakeholder and industry engagement, alongside contributions to a number of legislative reform processes. Most notably, the government recently introduced the Body Corporate and Community Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 into parliament, which seeks to engage in reforms to Queensland’s leading strata legislation (the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997).

Stage 1 reforms are largely focused on rectifying issues such as scheme termination, pets, towing and smoking. Once passed, stage 2 reforms are likely to tackle more contentious issues, such as management rights.

South Australia / Northern Territory

SCA (SA/NT) has recently had a period of constructive engagement with office of the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, under which the strata portfolio sits in South Australia. SCA (SA/NT) is looking forward to further collaboration with Minister Michaels, specifically in regard to addressing critical and necessary reforms to South Australia’s Community and Strata Titles Legislation.

Excitingly, the Northern Territory is in the process of initiating a strata working group, made up of a variety of strata stakeholders. The working group will seek to drive government towards rectifying issues such as debt recovery and underinsurance in the Territory.

Tasmania

SCA (Tas) continues to await reforms to the Strata Titles Act 1998 that are still being considered by the Tasmanian Government.

The reforms promise to address the key issue areas of body corporate insurance, common property and service infrastructure, disclosure of body corporate information and records, dispute resolution processes and the regulation of strata managers.

Victoria

The City of Melbourne local government authority called for input for its proposed short-term accommodation policy and SCA (Vic) provided a submission with a series of recommendations for Council to consider in terms of appropriate regulation. This submission also conveyed the experiences, perspectives, and challenges of strata professionals in managing properties which have short-term accommodation.

In addition, SCA (Vic) welcomed the joint announcement of a Victorian-Commonwealth Government deal to deliver thousands of rooftop solar installations for apartment residents across the state as a positive step toward creating a more sustainable future for strata.

Western Australia

SCA (WA) continues its positive relationship with WA’s Land Titles Office (Landgate), and is looking forward to beginning the process of initiating the legislated 5-year review of the Strata Titles Act 1985. Collaborative efforts between SCA (WA), the wider strata industry, the public and Landgate on the legislative reforms are crucial to ensuring that the changes best serve the interests of the entire strata sector and community.

Similarly, SCA (WA) is looking forward to the upcoming drafting and implementation of the revised educational qualifications for strata managers in the state, and is motivated to provide strong support to SCA (WA) membership throughout the transitional period that will follow.