Australia’s strata sector is under pressure — and it's no longer a niche issue.
Following high-profile investigations by Four Corners and 7.30 Report, strata governance failures, building defects, and financial blowouts are now front and centre. With more Australians living in apartments and townhouses than ever before, what happens next in this space will impact millions.
In this episode, Kate McHugh, co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable, joins us to unpack what’s driving the crisis—and what needs to change. Drawing from her work on the Strata Futures Report, Kate outlines the six key reform pillars that emerged from cross-sector collaboration, covering everything from governance and professional standards to owner advocacy and sustainability.
We explore how opaque commissions, underfunded capital works, power imbalances, and a fragmented regulatory system are eroding trust in strata—and why many apartment owners are left feeling blindsided by defects and skyrocketing levies. Kate also shares what it would take for the sector to turn itself around—before government intervention does it for them.
Whether you're a strata owner, buyer, investor, or professional, this episode offers critical insight into the future of high-density living in Australia.
Episode Highlights
00:00 – Welcome
02:09 – The Strata Sector's Challenges
04:14 – Governance and Regulation Issues
05:08 – The Round Table Initiative
11:54 – Sustainability in Strata
17:13 – The Six Pillars of Reform
26:07 – Understanding Strata Obligations
27:19 – The Importance of Maintenance and Governance Data
28:30 – Investing in the Strata Sector
29:08 – Personal Mission to Improve Property Decisions
30:18 – Challenges in Strata Education and Awareness
31:29 – Public Awareness and Training Initiatives
33:32 – Strata Management and Building Maintenance
37:00 – The Future of Strata Development
40:30 – Sector Collaboration and Task Force
44:14 – Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Mentions
About the Guest
Kate McHugh is the co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable and co-author of the Strata Futures Report. With a background in governance, policy, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, Kate works at the intersection of lived experience and systemic reform in Australia’s strata sector.
Partnering with former NSW Strata Commissioner John Minns and a wide network of industry and consumer leaders, Kate helped convene a cross-sector discussion to explore what’s broken—and what could be rebuilt. The outcome: a collaborative report outlining six key reform areas designed to make strata more equitable, transparent, and functional. Her work is helping push the conversation forward at a time when strata’s role in housing affordability, sustainability, and urban planning has never been more critical.
Connect with Kate
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