The 2026 Australian Auction and Valuation Sector Insurance Insights and Reform Report, provides practical insight into how insurance supports valuers and auctioneers in their day-to-day work and their ability to participate in the market.  It is published by the Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia (AVAA) as a tool to support engagement with both the insurance sector plus the Australian Government.

Developed with strong input from AVAA Corporate Members and individuals with the AVAA Certified Valuer (CVAu) and  AVAA Certified Auctioneer (CAAu) credentials plus others, the report reflects real business experience across a diverse range of operating models, asset classes and markets. It combines quantitative survey data with practitioner insight, capturing not only how insurance is structured, but how it is experienced in practice across businesses of different sizes and specialisations.

For valuers and auctioneers, the report is directly relevant to their operations. It highlights that insurance is not simply a safeguard, but a core condition of market participation, often required to access institutional work, satisfy client expectations and support professional credibility. It also provides practical context on how businesses structure cover in response to pricing, underwriting conditions and external requirements such as bank panel thresholds.

A key benefit of the report is the visibility it provides. It enables the industry, the insurance sector, and the Australian Government to better understand how insurance operates in practice, including areas where coverage, cost, and risk are not always fully aligned. It also highlights emerging considerations such as cyber risk, digital operations and the growing importance of understanding policy scope. The report’s data was collected from an industry-wide survey and key findings include:

  • 38.7 per cent report coverage is fully adequate for contemporary risks.
  • 48.2 per cent report cyber insurance is not in place.
  • 60.7 per cent report business interruption insurance is not in place.
  • 16.7 per cent report professional indemnity insurance is not in place.
  • 76.0 per cent report regulatory requirements are clear and proportionate.

Cyber risk insurance is an emerging area of focus as businesses rely more on digital systems and data. The report shows adoption remains limited, with varying levels of understanding, highlighting an opportunity to strengthen awareness and alignment with modern business risk.

Professional indemnity insurance remains central to practice, underpinning access to work and protecting professional judgement. The report highlights rising premiums, tighter underwriting and high client-mandated limits, reinforcing its role as both an enabler of participation and a key operational consideration.

A copy of this landmark study can be downloaded via the link below.

The report also serves as a practical reference tool. It supports informed conversations with clients, brokers and partners by providing a clear view of how peers approach insurance, how coverage is evolving, and where opportunities exist to better align insurance settings with contemporary business practices.  The report also supports AVAA’s member-driven policy advocacy with the Australian, state and territory governments.

This is the first in a biennial series, designed to track developments over time and continue building a strong, member-driven evidence base for the profession.

The 2026 Australian Auction and Valuation Sector Insurance Insights and Reform Report will be a key discussion point at the AVC26 Conference on the Gold Coast over 7-8 May 2026, so be sure to book your tickets for this key industry event.
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Interested In Finding Out More?

If you’re interested in AVAA;s member-driven policy advocacy, 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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