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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/06/victorian-government-refused-to-bail-out-collapsed-builder-porter-davis
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| Victorian government refused to bail out collapsed builder Porter Davis | Victorian government refused to bail out collapsed builder Porter Davis |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Daniel Andrews says ‘we’ve made the right call’, but didn’t rule out supporting affected customers | Daniel Andrews says ‘we’ve made the right call’, but didn’t rule out supporting affected customers |
| The Victorian government made the right choice in refusing to bail out collapsed building company Porter Davis, Daniel Andrews says. | The Victorian government made the right choice in refusing to bail out collapsed building company Porter Davis, Daniel Andrews says. |
| The company went into liquidation last week, leaving thousands of Victorian and Queensland homes in the lurch, and the Andrews government is now investigating whether the firm left customers uninsured. | |
| The Victorian premier confirmed the state’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, spoke to Porter Davis but chose not to proceed with a bail out. | The Victorian premier confirmed the state’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, spoke to Porter Davis but chose not to proceed with a bail out. |
| “We’ve made the right call here,” Andrews told reporters on Thursday. “If the bank is not prepared to fund you because your fundamentals are just not there, then I don’t know that would be a business that the Victorian government would want to bail out.” | “We’ve made the right call here,” Andrews told reporters on Thursday. “If the bank is not prepared to fund you because your fundamentals are just not there, then I don’t know that would be a business that the Victorian government would want to bail out.” |
| Andrews did not rule out supporting affected customers, saying his government was assessing available options. | Andrews did not rule out supporting affected customers, saying his government was assessing available options. |
| But the state’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, criticised the government’s actions, saying it did not take steps to prevent the company’s collapse. | |
| “It’s always better and easier to deal with a company in a state of distress before it goes into liquidation,” he said. | |
| The premier confirmed the government was investigating whether Porter Davis illegally left customers uninsured after taking their deposits. | |
| Builders in Victoria have to buy domestic building insurance policies on behalf of homeowners before they take deposits or any money for projects of more than $16,000. | Builders in Victoria have to buy domestic building insurance policies on behalf of homeowners before they take deposits or any money for projects of more than $16,000. |
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| The requirement falls under the Domestic Building Insurance Ministerial Order. | The requirement falls under the Domestic Building Insurance Ministerial Order. |
| “We are looking at that actively,” Andrews said. | “We are looking at that actively,” Andrews said. |
| “I just want to remind everybody in this industry, the law applies to everyone. It’s not a matter of choosing to lodge those insurance premiums.” | “I just want to remind everybody in this industry, the law applies to everyone. It’s not a matter of choosing to lodge those insurance premiums.” |
| Liquidators Grant Thornton on Tuesday held a webinar for Porter Davis customers following the company’s collapse, where Said Jahani suggested some were without insurance. | Liquidators Grant Thornton on Tuesday held a webinar for Porter Davis customers following the company’s collapse, where Said Jahani suggested some were without insurance. |
| Jahani said they fell into a gap between paying Porter Davis a deposit and not having an insurance policy until weeks or months later when a permit was obtained. | Jahani said they fell into a gap between paying Porter Davis a deposit and not having an insurance policy until weeks or months later when a permit was obtained. |
| Melbourne resident Eric Poon, 33, said he is among Porter Davis customers left without insurance, and argued the suggestion some people fell through the gap is an attempt to rationalise the home builder’s actions. | Melbourne resident Eric Poon, 33, said he is among Porter Davis customers left without insurance, and argued the suggestion some people fell through the gap is an attempt to rationalise the home builder’s actions. |
| He and wife Abby Zhong paid the deposit for their Porter Davis home in Melbourne’s outer north-east in December 2020, but the land was only titled last week because of delays by a land developer handing over the property. | He and wife Abby Zhong paid the deposit for their Porter Davis home in Melbourne’s outer north-east in December 2020, but the land was only titled last week because of delays by a land developer handing over the property. |
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| Porter Davis told the couple they’d arranged insurance for them, but when they contacted the firm in the wake of the home builder’s demise, they were told they didn’t have a policy, Poon said. | |
| The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority couldn’t find any insurance policy in Poon’s name, and the couple now faces paying off two mortgages – one, for their current residence at Glen Waverley – after interest rates skyrocketed. | The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority couldn’t find any insurance policy in Poon’s name, and the couple now faces paying off two mortgages – one, for their current residence at Glen Waverley – after interest rates skyrocketed. |
| “This has put a considerable financial strain on us,” Poon said. | “This has put a considerable financial strain on us,” Poon said. |
| “We were hoping to complete the construction of our new home as soon as possible so that we could rent out our current apartment and generate some cash flow.” | “We were hoping to complete the construction of our new home as soon as possible so that we could rent out our current apartment and generate some cash flow.” |
| Poon was also concerned about allegations Porter Davis was trading while insolvent, and said the government should care for people whose livelihoods were put at risk by building companies’ collapses. | Poon was also concerned about allegations Porter Davis was trading while insolvent, and said the government should care for people whose livelihoods were put at risk by building companies’ collapses. |
| “We are already dealing with a rental and building shortage crisis, and now consumers don’t feel protected and are afraid to build,” he said. | “We are already dealing with a rental and building shortage crisis, and now consumers don’t feel protected and are afraid to build,” he said. |
| Porter Davis customers unsure if they have domestic building insurance should contact the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, which is dealing with claims in the state. | Porter Davis customers unsure if they have domestic building insurance should contact the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, which is dealing with claims in the state. |
| Other firms also offer domestic building insurance. | Other firms also offer domestic building insurance. |
| The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is dealing with claims from the Porter Davis fallout, with about 1,500 properties in Victoria and 200 in Queensland estimated to be affected by the company’s demise. | The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is dealing with claims from the Porter Davis fallout, with about 1,500 properties in Victoria and 200 in Queensland estimated to be affected by the company’s demise. |
| Those without a certificate of insurance should contact liquidators Grant Thornton. | Those without a certificate of insurance should contact liquidators Grant Thornton. |
| Grant Thornton has been contacted for comment. | Grant Thornton has been contacted for comment. |