April
Unburdened by doubt, the PM is chasing the mantle of aspiration
Anthony Albanese’s campaign has been almost flawless compared with his 2022 effort and Dutton’s debut. He cites a couple of reasons.
‘Pro-aspiration’ PM shies away from new taxes on investors, super
Anthony Albanese has also ruled out restricting negative gearing to help fix the housing crisis because it would signal to voters that Labor is an anti-aspiration.
Chalmers says he asked for advice, not modelling on negative gearing
Jim Chalmers has cleared up a misstep by Anthony Albanese, who denied during Wednesday’s debate that the government had requested modelling on negative gearing.
Coalition to revive technical colleges, won’t commit to housing target
Peter Dutton claimed a $260 million pledge to establish new Australian technical colleges was another pillar of his housing affordability and accessibility policies.
December 2024
Capital gains benefit spikes to $22.7b as property investors sell out
Treasury estimates forgone taxes from the capital gains tax discount in 2024-25 have more than doubled since the last estimate in February 2023.
Tax rise on $3m-plus super accounts ‘unfinished business’: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers says he’ll keep pursuing higher taxes on $3 million-plus superannuation accounts, but won’t go after negative gearing.
November 2024
Changing CGT, negative gearing won’t help housing supply: Treasury
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says curbing the capital gains tax deduction would have more impact on lowering house prices than changes to negative gearing, but neither would help boost supply.
October 2024
‘Not convinced’: Chalmers kills off negative gearing changes
The treasurer says expert modelling on tax concessions for property investors show changes would not help the supply side of Australia’s housing crisis.
Costello backs negative gearing: ‘It’s not a concession’
Both the former treasurer and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton say negative gearing should be upheld as a basic principle of our tax system.
‘Be careful what you wish for’ in property tax reform
Any benefit from falling house prices by curbing investor concessions may be short-lived. And there would be a price to pay, say property experts.
Young voters fear axing negative gearing could worsen housing crisis
More renters want changes to the tax incentive but there is no groundswell for change.
Dutton raises housing stakes with $5b pledge to build 500k homes
Opposition leader says a government he leads would spend $5 billion on enabling infrastructure for housing, and ban changes to the national construction code for 10 years.
Curtailing capital gains tax discount could raise $5b
While economists are mixed on negative gearing, almost all agree there is a strong case to review and scale back the 50 per cent CGT markdown.
Will cutting negative gearing fix the property crisis?
This week, Michael Read and Tom McIlroy discuss whether winding back the two big tax advantages to buying property – negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount – will help solve Australia’s housing crisis.
Negative gearing changes would be a drag on bank stocks: analysts
Citi examined restrictions on housing investor tax settings in New Zealand, and Australia in the 1980s, and found they helped rents go up.
Naive to think Labor should have delayed Voice vote
Readers’ letters on the failed Voice referendum; home loan serviceability buffers; NDIS claims; cloud seeding; and landlord tax reform.
The housing policy choices facing voters
What are the choices facing voters in 2025 and which policies will actually help address the shortages of supply in Australia’s hectic property market?
We’re more nuanced on negative gearing than five years ago
Disadvantages for investors – and gains for aspiring owners – would be more modest than many expect, if Australia’s property tax regime changed.
High rates, low confidence - and tax cloud - hit housing pipeline
Australia’s need for new housing is intense, but in a market where feasibilities are “challenging”, that’s not translating into new homes.
Chalmers digs in on negative gearing advice
Treasurer Jim Chalmers again hedged when questioned if he had asked officials to model changes to tax concessions for property investors.