The Victorian Government has secured the passage of the Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026, introducing a suite of reforms aimed at improving consumer protection and confidence in the apartment market.

Resilience Insurance, Australia’s leading Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) provider, has welcomed the move.

The LDI elements of the Bill passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the Legislative Council where debate and passage are expected later this month. It represents a significant milestone in the national shift toward stronger, longer-term protection for apartment buyers.&nbsp;

The reform would deliver practical benefits across the housing system. Apartment owners will have stronger protection if major defects emerge, developers and builders will have a clearer quality framework to work within, and the State will reduce the risk of serious building failures becoming a long-term financial and social burden for households, communities and government.&nbsp;

LDI helps support apartment delivery while providing stronger protection for buyers and encouraging better construction outcomes.&nbsp;

Resilience LDI provides apartment owners with 10 years of insurance-backed cover for major structural defects from completion, with direct claim access to the insurer. This means owners are not required to first pursue developers or builders through costly legal action before accessing protection.&nbsp;

Resilience Insurance has been operating in Australia since 2022 and has already insured hundreds of development projects covering many thousands of apartments across Australia.&nbsp;

At approximately 1.8 per cent of build cost, it is a cost-competitive alternative to the traditional two per cent Strata Bond, bond while delivering significantly broader and longer protection.&nbsp;

“The Victorian Lower House vote shows that reforms like this succeed when they are practical, evidence-based and supported by industry," says Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

"Victoria is moving quickly on a reform that will make a real difference for apartment buyers, while supporting better building outcomes and greater confidence in apartment delivery.

“This is step one. We look forward to the Bill completing its passage through the Legislative Council and to working with government and industry to implement the framework effectively.”&nbsp;

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI): Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Consumer-first: Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Cost advantage: At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Market leader: Resilience Insurance is the first approved LDI provider in NSW.</li>
</ul>

The Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026 has passed the Victorian Lower House, putting Victoria on track to become the first state to legislate an industry workable LDI framework as a formal alternative to the Strata Building bond. 

Joel Robinson

10-year Latent Defects Insurance for new apartment buyers set to land in Victoria

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

Industry News

<html><body>
The much-anticipated national industry-owned portal will be called Squiiz.
The bizarrely named website is billed as taking on the News Ltd REA and Fairfax Domain property website powerhouses.
Launch meetings will <a href="https://www.squiiz.com.au" target="_blank">commence next month</a>.
The name relates, with an extra i, to squiz, the Australian slang for 'to have a look'.
Its member base indications currently incorporate 60% plus of the major estate agency market, the chief executive of the new portal, Nick Christian told the Real Estate Business website.
He went onto claim his “marketing and creative team has done an outstanding job developing a best-in-class brand communication and launch strategy around Squiiz, and we are excited about the prospects of what we can do with such a unique brand”.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/squiiz.com.au" target="_blank">It now has a Facebook site</a> with 57 likes. There are nine followers on its <a href="https://twitter.com/squiizproperty" target="_blank">Twitter </a>account.
Although its has been billed as arising from recent pricing concerns, Property Observer notes the "Squiiz Property finds You" trademark number was lodged in August 2013. 
Yesterday, Property Observer reported on Applabs Australia’s <a href="https://www.homeopen.com/" target="_blank">Home Open</a> website<a href="/news/new-property-listings-website-set-to-challenge-industry-giants"> that launched last Monday</a>. Home Open also intends to challenge the dominance of REA and Fairfax Domain in the online listings market.
{module Do you think prospective vendors will want to list their homes on a website called Squiiz?}
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Can Squiiz seriously challenge REA and Domain?

<html><body>
iProperty Group has been forced to write down $4.6 million from its Singapore business after an intervention by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The ASX-listed company failed to account for a change in market conditions in its December 2013 financial accounts.
The business owns property listing websites throughout south-east Asia, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. 
The company has updated its accounts for June to reflect the impairment.
ASIC welcomed the announcement.  ASIC reviewed the iProperty Group financial report as part of its ongoing financial reporting surveillance program.
Following inquiries of the company to understand its impairment testing methodology, ASIC questioned the recoverable amount of the Singapore business, and in particular, the iProperty Group’s use of fair value as a basis for estimating the recoverable value. iProperty Group had applied AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement for the first time for the reporting period ended 31 December 2013.
By estimating fair value, iProperty Group was required to apply that standard’s definition of fair value which requires entities to maximise the use of market-based inputs and assumptions.
</body></html>

iProperty write down $4.6 million after ASIC review

<html><body>
Australian real estate startup <a href="https://openagent.com.au/">OpenAgent</a> has closed a $1 million funding round, which included investment from Pete Flint, co-founder of US online real estate giant Trulia.
OpenAgent is a platform that provides rankings of all real estate agents based on past sales and customer reviews, and helps home owners connect to the best agent in their area when for their property.
OpenAgent co-founder Zoe Pointon says by and large it’s a service that real estate agents want.
“We’re not about naming and shaming, we’re really interested in putting a light on people that are doing a great job,” she says.
“Those people are thrilled to have an independent party backing up what they’re trying to say.
“Reaction from real estate agents has been really excellent, they are very conscious we can help them promote themselves and get more business.
“But anything that tries to put a bit of transparency into an industry that is lacking it, is always going to be a little bit controversial.”
The $1 million round, brings the startups total funding raised to $1.4 million, following on from an initial round of $400,000 last year.
The funds will be used to increase the OpenAgent team and its marketing presence.
“One of the challenges when you’re a super new service, you can’t just rely on pull type marketing, because there’s not enough people out there searching for free real estate agent reviews,” Pointon says.
“We’ve been testing a range of marketing channels, and seeing how to scale those.”
Other notable investors taking part in the fundraising round include One Big Switch co-founder Paul Hunyor, and Ellerston Capital advisory board member Anthony Klok, whose previous investments include Temando and Deals Direct.
Pointon says she and fellow co-founder Marta Higuera couldn’t have picked an investor more suited to OpenAgent than Flint, who recently sold Trulia to Zillow for $3.5 billion.
“Having Pete Flint come on board as an investor and advisor is just huge,” she says.
“Pete knows this space better than just about anyone, having built Trulia – one of the world’s biggest online real estate businesses – from the ground up.
“Pete loves what we’re doing, and clearly thinks OpenAgent has a bright future. You can’t get a better vote of confidence than that.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/" target="_blank">StartUp Smart.</a>
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Real estate startup OpenAgent scores $1 million in funding

<html><body>
<div>
The Bank of Queensland chief executive Stuart Grimshaw has resigned to pursue a non-banking opportunity outside Australia at a small financial services company in the United States, the NASDAQ listed Ezcorp which owns the Cash Converters franchise. It also has outlets in Mexico through Grupo Finmark and the UK through Cash Genie.
Last month, the leading provider of easy cash solutions for consumers, announced that Mark Kuchenrither, the chief financial officer of EZCORP, had been appointed interim chief executive officer by MS Pawn Limited Partnership, the majority shareholder.
</div>
The bank chairman Roger Davis said the board was disappointed.
His appointment was announced in August 2011 and after selling in the tony Sydney suburbs of Killara and Whale Beach, Grimshaw joined BOQ on 1 November 2011, succeeding David Liddy, who has been the chief since April 2001.
The board recently confirmed that the bank was on track to report full-year cash earnings after tax in line with consensus estimates of $298 million.
The results will be reported on 9 October.
The bank is one of the oldest financial institutions in Queensland, with a network of around 270 branches, including 152 in Queensland, 52 in New South Wales, 23 in Victoria and 34 in Western Australia.
The AFR Chanticleer columnist Tony Boyd reported Grimshaw maintains "pawn brokers offer similar services to the banking by the Medicis in Venice in the 1400s."
</body></html>

Bank of Queensland chief Stuart Grimshaw quits after three years for NASDAQ-listed easy cash

<html><body>
Calling itself the fastest growing property portal in Victoria, reviewproperty.com.au has re-launched its website and will be spending half a million dollars on a mixed-media advertising campaign at the end of the month.
Simultaneously, REA Group will be running their already infamous <a href="/news/left-field-realestate-com-au-puts-wagga-wagga-on-the-map-with-weird-arnold-schwarzenegger-ad">Arnold Schwarzenegger TV advertisements</a>.
The reviewproperty.com.au site is a partnership between 11 different Melbourne real estate agents, representing 250 offices, and Metro Media Publishing.
MMP’s chief operating officer Trent Casson said that it had been a success since its November 2012 launch and is profitable.
He notes it is sold as a package with Domain.
“We employ a dual brand strategy, with domain the national listings portal, and reviewproperty carrying those listings but also providing relevant, suburb-specific information that genuinely assists buyers and sellers in their decision making,” he said.
“The analysis clearly shows people value this information. Our audience is growing and time spent on site is up significantly.”
He notes that premium listings are up 40% year on year for July. The website includes features ranging from live auction and sales results, weekly market wrap videos with a summary of the different market activity across Melbourne, more first in market listings than other websites and ‘hyper local’ content with lifestyle, local news, suburb profiles and other details.
They’re set to spend $500,000 on a television, radio, magazine and newspaper campaign for the site that is expected to begin in late-August.
These will be in competition with REA Group’s realestate.com.au advertisements featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The advertisements, called the Australia Lives Here campaign, is a series of seven television commercials airing over the course of several weeks. The first ad in the series was advertised on all free to air, subscription Australian commercial television and major digital advertising networks at once. It was estimated that 2.7 million viewers saw the ad at the same time.
Group manager marketing strategy for realestate.com.au, Natalie Feehan, said that it’s the result of six month’s work.
Their new video, Local Knowledge, has just gone live on Youtube. It currently has under 1,000 views.
{qtube vid:=PXxfSegE5L4}
The 'Landing in Australia' video on YouTube from REA (below) has 30,000 plus views.
{qtube vid:=8VKoOyv4h08}
YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ
<a href="/news/how-an-australian-ad-agency-convinced-arnold-schwarzenegger-to-appear-in-its-ads">How an Australian ad agency convinced Arnold Schwarzenegger to appear in its ads</a>
<a href="/news/left-field-realestate-com-au-puts-wagga-wagga-on-the-map-with-weird-arnold-schwarzenegger-ad">Left-field realestate.com.au puts Wagga Wagga on the map with weird Arnold Schwarzenegger ad</a>
</body></html>

jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Real estate sites spending big on advertising campaigns

<html><body>
The REA Group is looking to trademark “realestate.com.au”, in a move that has irritated the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) who are now asking them to withdraw their application.
REIA president Peter Bushby says that it could affect other companies’ ability to use the term “real estate” in their titles.
“Given recent media reports about REA Group, their timing with this latest move to register realestate.com.au could hardly have been worse,” said Bushby.
“REIA encourages competition through quality service delivery. REA once again appears to be making a technical grab for control of those things that belong to the industry at large. It has in the past tried to prohibit others from using the words “real estate” in their domain names.”
He notes a case where Real Estate 1 Ltd in October 2010 faced proceedings from REA Group against them for the use of their trading and domain name realestate1.com.au.
The court records, however, show that the realestate1.com.au business was directly intending to be competitive.
“Mr Luff was aware of REA’s realestate.com.au property portal business and understood that the property portal he intended to establish would be in direct competition with REA’s portal,” the records note.
He also had the site realcommercial1.com.au.
“REA makes no complaint about Real Estate 1’s use of the mark “realestate1” but when that mark is used in conjunction with “.com.au” in relation to the websites of Real Estate 1, REA claims that such use infringes its registered trade marks,” the court documents reveal.
“In my view, Real Estate 1’s use of the Real Estate 1 logo is not deceptively similar to REA’s realestate.com.au trade marks. I have arrived at the opposite conclusion in relation to the realcommercial.com.au trade mark and the use by Real Estate 1 of the realcommercial1 logo,” the judge noted.
“I have found that by using the marks realestate1.com.au and realcommercial1.com.au, Real Estate 1 infringed REA’s trade marks in all but one of the different uses alleged by REA. Otherwise, REA’s claims expounded at trial have failed.”
However, during the proceedings it was noted that “real estate” and suffix is a natural choice for many looking to indicate a real estate portal, noting that another of the three most popular portals – realestateview.com.au – has this feature.
Here were the others identified by the court as having this feature:
<ul>
<li>therealestate.com.au</li>
<li>realestateone.com.au</li>
<li>realestate1st.com.au</li>
<li>realestateworld.com.au</li>
<li>ingrealestate.com.au</li>
<li>realestateguide.com.au</li>
<li>realestatesource.com.au</li>
<li>westrealestate.com.au</li>
<li>abcrealestate.com.au</li>
<li>prime-realestate.com.au</li>
<li>loverealestate.com.au</li>
<li>bellrealestate.com.au</li>
<li>realestatewa.com.au</li>
<li>realestateplus.com.au</li>
</ul>
Bushby noted that ABS data in June 2013 found that there were 35,019 real estate businesses operating in Australia, with a substantial portion using “real estate” as part of their branding. {module Do you think REA Group should withdraw their trademark application for “realestate.com.au”?}
</body></html>

Should REA Group be able to trademark “realestate.com.au”?

<html><body>
He is a household name in Hollywood and the former governor of California, but Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest role has a distinctly Australian bent.
The famous bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician is the <a href="/news/left-field-realestate-com-au-puts-wagga-wagga-on-the-map-with-weird-arnold-schwarzenegger-ad">face of the latest RealEstate.com.au advertising campaign</a>, as the online property site repositions itself to become a destination for much more than just property listings.
Arnie is just one part of RealEstate.com.au’s ‘Australia Lives Here’ story—the main character is Dylan, an Aussie who went looking for fame in Hollywood and ended up working for The Terminator star — and the campaign incorporates all facets of social media as well as TV and online video commercials.
The campaign was created by Australian advertising agency BWM, whose executive creative director Murray White and <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/profiles/42829-bold-horizons-how-mark-watkin-brings-an-entrepreneurial-streak-to-independent-advertising-agency-bwm" target="_blank">Melbourne managing director Mark Watkin</a> said they used their Los Angeles connections to get the star involved.
“We believed we could get Arnie based on our contacts, and we’d both worked with celebrities before,” says White.
Seven of the campaign’s ads will feature Arnie, who confuses Australia with Austria and then goes on a journey of discovering the country, aided of course by RealEstate.com.au. Arnie’s clips were filmed in the one day, with the whole shoot taking three days, says White.
“Arnie has that star factor and [featuring him in the campaign] would allow us to announce REA in a bigger way,” he says. “He was the perfect choice.”
“Arnie has this amazing comedic talent that everyone has forgotten about and we knew if we could get the ‘funny Arnie’ on the day, we would have something special,” says White.
But BWM did not start out with the idea of building a campaign around Arnie. Instead, the campaign started with the simple aim to “take Australia’s number one real estate site and convince people it is about more than just listings”, says White.
“Property is such a national passion but it’s also a personal thing so we wanted to tap into this personal significance,” he says. “So it made sense to use Arnie’s journey of discovery of what REA can do for him, to show what it can do for any of us.”
“The discovery aspect is critical,” says Watkin. “We go on a journey with Arnie as he discovers this wonderful product and the accidental nature of it all provides the humour.”
But the duo says it was a conscious decision for Arnie not to become a spokesperson or representative for REA, and instead be a character in the story.
“And we made a clear blanket rule that Arnie would never deliver his well-known cliché lines,” says White. “That would have been tapping into his well-known characters instead of allowing him to grow.”
“The worst thing we could have done is given people the expected,” he says.
Watkin describes the campaign as a “confident” step for a brand such as REA and so far it has been received well: the videos have attracted more than 750,000 hits on YouTube since the launch at the start of the week.
Both White and Watkin say the process of building the campaign with REA was highly collaborative and the strong concept of ‘Australia Lives Here’ allowed the creative team to build a “narrative arc”, which will feed into an ongoing social media campaign.
“What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Watkin. “There’s a whole back story, it’s quite a deep campaign.”
And it’s a campaign that fits squarely within BWM’s philosophy of producing content that “gets Australians talking”, says Watkin.
“It has huge talkability, participation and engagement,” he says.
{qtube vid:=8VKoOyv4h08}
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
</body></html>

ekeating-PWvazjYE25

How an Australian ad agency convinced Arnold Schwarzenegger to appear in its ads

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
What is proposed? 
The proposal is an exemption from unnecessary real estate agent licensing requirements, and other regulation, for agents managing on behalf of ‘large professional commercial property owners’, including those agents managing for ‘related entity’ property owners (e.g. AMP’s shopping centre management arm managing on behalf of AMP-owned shopping centres).
Why shouldn’t these agents hold a real estate agents license? 
The real estate agents license is exclusively oriented to residential real estate and teaches the holder nothing about commercial property work. Large commercial property owners (such as Dexus, AMP Capital Investors and Stockland) understand fully the risks involved in commercial real estate transactions.
They do not need the protection of Parliament in their business affairs. All this does is add unnecessary costs.
Why not have a special license for commercial property? 
There is no need for a licence. Because the present license is irrelevant, large professional commercial property owners have instigated their own intensive on the job, and off the job, training for their staff.
The Property Council Academy also provides specialised professional development courses. The training of commercial property staff in Australia is admired around the world.
Will this have a major impact on commercial property? 
No. This will affect fewer than 1% of commercial property buildings and more than 96% of commercial building sales will be unaffected.
If it has such a limited impact, why bother doing anything? 
This is a major cost for commercial property owners since they have to send staff off to gain an unnecessary qualification and provide staff cover for them while they are doing so.
It also hamstrings them in making efficient staffing arrangements. This also means taxpayers’ money is being spent unnecessarily administering and enforcing this regulation.
What effect will it have on tenants? 
None. Retail tenants are protected by retail tenancy legislation (such as the Retail Leases Act) and this reform is supported by the major retailer associations. It has never previously been claimed that the estate agents legislation was a protection for tenants.
Are any other States doing this?  
Yes. The Queensland has already legislated for these exemptions in its new Property Occupations Act which is expected to begin operation in September.
The government said this was a major initiative to reduce business costs in Queensland. The Victorian government has also announced it will do the same, following a recommendation from its independent Red Tape Commissioner. 
Will this have any implications for home owners and home buyers? 
None. This does not affect residential real estate.
Will this have adverse implications for small and medium sized commercial real estate agencies? 
No. This will only benefit large commercial property owners. These do not use small commercial real estate agencies for their management. Those large commercial property owners who do use large third-party managers (such as JLL, Savills) will still opt to use those agencies because they bring professionalism and experience.
Why did State Governments require regulation and licensing of these large commercial property owners in the first place? 
This was regulation by historical accident. The original legislation was in existence prior to the rise of the professional commercial property industry in Australia and before the founding of companies such as Westfield (now Scentre Group) and Stockland. Because an agency relationship existed between these companies and their managers (even when the manager was a ‘related entity’) they were ‘caught’ by the legislation.
If this removal of regulation so minor, why are the Real Estate Institutes opposing it? 
Not all REIs are opposing. The REI Queensland supported the exemptions, although it specified a minimum threshold for defining a ‘large commercial property owner’. We agree with their minimum.
The attitude of the REINSW and REIV is puzzling since it will have such a limited impact. We have been told privately by some of their officials that they fear this will be the ‘thin end of the wedge’, leading to the removal of all licensing requirements for commercial property agents. They fear this will lead to more competition in the industry. This should not be a consideration for governments.
Is there a precedent for removing a portion of an industry from regulation? 
Yes. It is common for Parliaments to decide that there are entities that are large enough, and commercially sophisticated, to look after themselves in commercial transactions.
For example large retailers (those whose floor space is more than 1,000 square metres or whose rent exceeds a certain threshold) do not get the protection of the Retail Leases Act.
Parliaments decided that retailers such as Coles and Woolworths do not need the protections of this legislation, which was to be confined to ‘small retailers’. This is the same.
Companies as large as AMP and Lend Lease do not need to be protected in business dealings with their managers.
Is this being rushed through? 
No. Debate on this issue has been going on for more than 10 years. The ‘related entity’ exemption has been recommended (twice) by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) and by the independent Review of the NSW Property Stock and Business Agents Act. 
Both the ‘related entity’ and ‘large property owner’ exemptions were recommended in the Regulatory Impact Statement on the proposed national license for real estate agents. Both exemptions were recommended in Queensland by the Red Tape Reduction Review of the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act, which led to the exemptions being legislated in Queensland (see Q.6). 
Milton Cockburn is an adviser to Shopping Centre Council of Australia.
</body></html>

Why real estate agent licensing requirements for large commerical property owners are unnecessary 

<html><body>
Savills Australia has appointed Shammi Liang to the position of analyst.
Working with Savills' national head of research Tony Crab and Victorian head of research Glenn Lampard from the firm's William Street office, Liang will also provide support to other Savills' divisions.
Liang formerly worked in property management for Ironfish and is currently undertaking a Master of Property degree at the University of Melbourne. She is a fluent Mandarin and Cantonese Speaker.
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Shammi Liang appointed at Savills research team

<html><body>
For the first time Ray White’s group sales in July exceeded $3 billion, the first time in any winter month.
"The markets are continuing to resemble spring/summer conditions in a remarkable display of consistency," Ray White co-chairman Brian White advised, adding the consistency was across all individual markets. 
Brian White pinpointed the strength of the recovery in Queensland - noting it was "once the hardest hit property market in Australia".
 Seems the only thing holding even stronger results across our markets is the seasonal stock shortages.
"Capital cities - indeed the inner city components of our major capitals - are proving fundamental in this resilience," he said.
Ray White’s inner city New Farm office in Brisbane achieved an all time record of $50 million.
The previous July 2013 figure was $2.1 billion, although it is not a like on like figure given office openings in the meantime.
The figure includes residential, commercial and hotel sales from across its Asia Pacific network.
"Cold weather always tames our markets so we needed to be happy with our $2.6 billion for June," Brian White said in the June 2014 report.
The June 2013 sales number was $2.3 billion, up on June 2012 by 5%.
The Ray White Group’s May 2014 results of $3.3 billion took the group to equal its all time monthly record, well above the $2.7 billion notched up in May 2103. 
This year's May tally included $1 billion in NSW.
</body></html>

Industry News

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Industry News

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News