The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV), peak body for Victoria’s real estate industry, is today taking the unprecedented step of standing with the Opposition to urge major amendments to Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.
With the Second Reading of the Bill scheduled in the Legislative Assembly today, the REIV is joining Jade Benham MP, Member for Mildura and Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, in a warning to Victorians that the Bill’s gaps and impracticalities will expose sellers, buyers, and agents to serious litigation risks and add unnecessary complexity to property transactions.
While the REIV has always been and remains a bi-partisan peak body, its decision to stand with the Opposition on this matter follows continued efforts to offer constructive, evidencebased counsel to the Victorian Government to ensure the legislation is both effective and practical. This advice continues to be ignored or rejected.
The REIV has provided all Parliamentarians with recommended alterations for improving the Bill’s effectiveness while ensuring each measure makes practical sense in today’s real estate market.
Toby Balazs, CEO of the REIV, said the Government must listen to the advice of industry and redraft the Bill.
“We strongly support greater price transparency in Victoria’s property market, but the Government has repeatedly ignored practical, evidence-based solutions put forward by the industry.
We have provided the Government with comprehensive, actionable reforms, backed by independent research and detailed analysis, that would improve transparency while delivering certainty and fairness for both buyers and sellers.
Instead, the Government has chosen to pursue legislation that risks undermining the very transparency it claims to support. These flawed reforms will create greater uncertainty, add unnecessary complexity and impose costly hurdles on Victorians trying to buy and sell property.
The Government should listen to the evidence, listen to the industry and get this reform right.”
Media Contact: media@reiv.com.au 03 9205 6607