The Victorian government says an expert panel will review owners’ corporation laws, with commissions and “kickbacks” potentially in the firing line.

Strata managers and their sometimes complex insurance remuneration arrangements hit the headlines last year, as part of a highly critical ABC exposé.

NSW has already increased transparency requirements, and it is possible managers there will be banned from benefiting from insurance commissions.

Now, Victoria has launched its own investigations to ensure the state’s Owners Corporations Act is working “fairly and efficiently” and in the interests of residents and lot owners.

The government says a quarter of all Victorians live in strata schemes and the proportion is expected to “increase significantly”. 

Among other issues, the panel will examine “unethical owners’ corporation management conduct, including dishonest business practices, unfair contracts, conflicts of interest and inappropriate commissions or ‘kickbacks’ ”.

The panel, chaired by former consumer affairs minister Marsha Thomson, will consult residents and other stakeholders to inform its report.

Consultation will take place through Engage Victoria later this year, and the report will be handed to Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos by December. 

“Significant reforms were made to laws in 2021 to better reflect the needs of Victorians living in apartments and other owners’ corporations properties – this expert panel will ensure those reforms are strengthened and improved even further,” Mr Staikos said.