Constituency Question – Victorian Building Authority

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:56): (332) My question is to the Minister for Planning. A domestic builder, my constituent, has regularly paid $460 a year to the VBA, the Victorian Building Authority, to renew his registration. This enables him to purchase insurance with warranties for each renovation or new home construction. He has received a renewal notice for his registration. It is not due until 29 November, but it has gone up over 100 per cent to $1052 and must be paid by 29 August or he will incur a late fee. He is a sole trader and he has escalating building costs, so my constituent wants to know: why has the building registration fee gone up by more than 100 per cent and why are penalties now being applied before the due date?