Most Victorians are surprised to learn that when a new home is constructed, or significant plumbing works are carried out on an existing property, there is generally no independent inspector physically checking whether the plumbing work has been done correctly before an occupancy permit is issued.

Bastion Legal represented an Aboriginal family affected by one of Victoria's most tragic residential fire incidents in recent years.

Ms O’Connell owned two residential properties in Windsor, Victoria, and engaged Lentelle Pty Ltd under separate domestic building contracts to redevelop the properties. Disputes subsequently arose concerning defective building work, leading Ms O’Connell to terminate the contracts and commence proceedings against the builder in the County Court of Victoria in late 2022.

Bastion Legal is proud to be featured in Melbourne Heritage Interiors, released in October 2025. Our offices at the heritage-listed Mitchell House reflect Melbourne’s rich architectural and cultural history.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has urged insurers to improve their systems following a major Federal Court decision involving Insurance Australia Group (IAG). The Court found that IAG made false and misleading representations to customers regarding loyalty discounts…

Bastion Legal’s Dean Charalambous recently featured on the Site Inspections YouTube channel with Zeher Khalil in a two-hour investigation uncovering how families were left devastated by forged contracts, invalid insurance, structural defects, and no protection when their builder failed them.

Bastion Legal’s Dean Charalambous recently contributed to an ABC News investigation uncovering widespread failures in Victoria’s plumbing-insurance system. The report shines a light on families whose homes have been left uninhabitable after defective plumbing works, only to discover that the insurance meant to protect them is either inadequate, incorrectly issued, or denied altogether.

A critical independent review conducted by Weir Legal and Consulting has revealed the continual failures within the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), highlighting its inability to protect homeowners from defective and incomplete construction…

In this episode of Site Inspections, we look at a case where homeowners were allowed to move into their properties without an Occupancy Certificate (OC), even though the works were incomplete and non-compliant.

A recent ABC News investigation has highlighted serious concerns about Melbourne-based Baba Building Group after the Victorian Building Authority issued a public warning about alleged defective and non-compliant work. The investigation reported cases of homes being left incomplete, built outside the approved permit, or occupied before they were safe or certified.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has confirmed that insurance claims handling will be a key enforcement priority for 2024. This follows a year of regulatory focus on pricing misconduct in the insurance industry…

At its Annual Forum, ASIC’s Deputy Chair Sarah Court announced the 2025 enforcement focus, emphasising consumer risks stemming from cost of living pressures. Key priorities include…

Dean Charalmbous joined Zeher Khalil on the Site Inspections podcast to dive into the world of construction law and homeowner rights. In this episode, we unpack some of the complexities around construction insurance and what homeowners need to know during the building phase.

The case has been the catalyst for exclusions in professional indemnity insurance cover, withdrawals of insurance cover and increased premiums for practitioners in the building and construction industry, including consultants such as those in this case (architects, building surveyors and fire engineers)…

In Owners Corporation PS505245E and Ors v Moresi Builders Pty Ltd and Anor (Domestic Building) [2011] VCAT 1630, the Owners Corporation PS505245E and individual lot owners (“the applicants”), initiated proceedings against Moresi Builders Pty Ltd (“the builder”). The builder was responsible for constructing their residential multi-unit residential complex located in Richmond.

The case of Kozarov v Victoria [2022] HCA 12 concerns a claim brought by the appellant, Mr. Kozarov, who sought compensation under the Victorian WorkCover scheme for injuries sustained during his employment with the State of Victoria. Mr. Kozarov, employed as a public transport driver, was involved in a workplace accident that led to severe back and neck injuries.

he case of Hipworth v VWA revolves around the claim of Rosemary Hipworth, who sought leave to bring proceedings against the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) for damages related to pain and suffering, as well as pecuniary loss.

In Fahey v VWA, the plaintiff, Mr. Fahey, sustained a right shoulder injury from a traumatic scapular fracture, which caused ongoing pain, reduced range of motion, and physical limitations. The injury led to significant challenges in both his professional and personal life. While he returned to work full-time, his role was modified to accommodate his restrictions, which included lifting limitations and avoiding tasks that required significant use of his right arm.

Mr. Elisha was employed by Vision Australia Limited (“Vision Australia”) as an adaptive technology consultant. In March 2015, he was involved in allegations of serious misconduct, specifically related to aggressive behaviour. These allegations were in relation to Mr Elisha’s conduct during his stay in a hotel in rural Victoria amidst his work duties (“the incident”).

Mr. Chandler, the plaintiff, suffered a work-related injury to his left knee in October 2018, which led to a fall that exacerbated pre-existing shoulder conditions. He experienced significant ongoing pain in both shoulders, with his left shoulder condition deteriorating over time. Despite extensive treatment, including surgeries, physiotherapy, and pain management strategies, Mr. Chandler's left shoulder pain remained severe, significantly affecting his daily life.