Auctioneers and valuers are playing an active role in shaping a parliamentary submission reviewing the challenges of small business insurance, contributing practical insights drawn from day-to-day professional practice. Their experience spans diverse operating environments, from metropolitan commercial markets to regional and remote Australia, and provides an important evidence base for policy makers examining how modern insurance products are working in practice.

The Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia (AVAA) is preparing a formal submission to the Australian Parliament’s Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry into the provision, regulation, and pricing of modern insurance products for small businesses and not-for-profit and community organisations. This submission is being developed on behalf of the auctioneering and valuation sector, reflecting the collective experiences of practitioners who routinely engage with public liability, professional indemnity, cyber risk, and business interruption insurance.

Both AVAA Certified Auctioneers (CAAu) and AVAA Certified Valuers (CVAu) are uniquely placed to inform this the parliamentarians undertaking this inquiry. Many operate as small professional practices, often with significant personal exposure to risk, while also advising clients on asset values, commercial risk, and market conditions.  Via sector-wide online survey being conducted by AVAA during February 2026, individual professionals and members are providing feedback on the accessibility of insurance coverage that genuinely reflects contemporary business needs, particularly as digital platforms, online auctions, and data-driven valuation tools increase cyber and operational risks.

Affordability and availability of insurance remain a consistent theme according to recent feedback from the AVAA membership. Practitioners in regional and remote areas report disproportionate premium increases, limited insurer choice, and policy exclusions that do not align with actual risk profiles. Those working in higher-risk sectors, such as industrial assets, art and collectables, or agricultural equipment, have highlighted challenges in maintaining adequate cover without compromising business viability.

The AVAA submission will also examine whether the current regulatory framework is keeping pace with modern insurance challenges. In the past, AVAA members have noted the complexity of policy wording, inconsistent underwriting approaches, and the administrative burden placed on small firms seeking compliance across multiple insurance classes. These observations are particularly relevant given the inquiry’s oversight focus on Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and its role in regulating insurance products and market conduct.

By coordinating this submission, AVAA is ensuring that the practical realities faced by auctioneers and valuers are clearly articulated to Parliament. The aim is to support a regulatory and policy environment that delivers fair, accessible, and fit-for-purpose insurance outcomes for small professional businesses and the communities they serve.

Individuals serving on the AVAA Government Affairs Committee are playing an active role in developing the submission, reflecting AVAA’s member-driven policy advocacy.

Interested In Finding Out More?

For further information on the development of AVAA’s submission to the parliamentary enquiry, please send an email to government.affairs@avaa.com.au or telephone 1300 928 165.  You can also stay up to date by following AVAA on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and Facebook.
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