September
Andrews ignored advice to axe stamp duty in housing plan
The state’s 800,000 new home push ignores tax measures that could free up existing housing stock – but that would mean a loss of lucrative stamp duty revenue.
- Michael Bleby
August
Andrews urged to scrap stamp duty to ease housing crisis
The Victorian government has been urged to consider dropping stamp duty for a broad-based land tax.
- Gus McCubbing
July
House prices to rise as stamp duty forces owners to stay put: Jarden
Soaring agent fees and stamp duties are preventing an increasing number of homeowners from moving, according to new research from investment bank Jarden.
- Michael Read
June
- Opinion
- Australian economy
How to turn stamp duty into a land tax overnight
There is a way that Australia’s most inefficient tax could be phased out without states losing a lot of revenue upfront.
- Robert Breunig
May
Victoria land tax rise to hit poorer renters, investors say
Higher land tax will hurt owners of lower-priced properties, and the renters who lease them, investors say. Housing advocates say it could boost supply.
- Michael Bleby and Gus McCubbing
Perrottet’s stamp duty reforms set to be torn up by Minns
Two steps forward, one step back: NSW Premier Chris Minns is set to introduce legislation tearing up stamp duty reforms in favour of more stamp duty breaks.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Property owners hit with bill for COVID-19 debt
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas says people with multiple properties should make a “modest” contribution to reduce the state’s pandemic debt.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby
The hidden ‘divorce tax’ that’s hurting women
More than half of separated women fail to own a home again within 10 years, a Victorian parliament inquiry has heard.
- Patrick Durkin and Gus McCubbing
April
Pay states to scrap stamp duty: CEDA
The Albanese government is being urged to pay states to implement big reforms like scrapping stamp duty and liberalising planning laws to boost productivity.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Ease the housing squeeze on the supply side
The need to the pressure on renters and house hunters is an opportunity for local and state governments to remove the planning and regulatory obstacles to building more homes.
- The AFR View
January
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Letters: Immigrants face unwelcome hurdles
Facilitating skilled immigrants; political and business ethics; Albanese’s diary; NSW stamp duty, pokies reform; climate action at Davos; new super rules; useless currency; CFMEU penalty cut.
- Exclusive
- NSW Election
Perrottet stamp duty plan attracts 100 applicants a day in first week
More than 400 homeowners opted into the NSW Government’s new first home buyer choice program in its first four days of operation.
- Samantha Hutchinson
NSW first home buyers urged to check fine print as land values soar
Property experts are urging first home buyers weighing up Dominic Perrottet’s property tax scheme to pay close attention to land values as prices soar
- Samantha Hutchinson
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Letters: Legislate Indigenous Voice, delay vote
Indigenous Voice and referendum; stamp duty bracket creep; Labor’s climate politics; submarines: nuclear or not?; Iran and Afghanistan; Victorian Liberals.
- Exclusive
- Property prices
Stamp duty hits record, fuelled by ‘turbo bracket creep’
The average NSW homebuyer paid a record of nearly $50,000 in stamp duty last year. But economists say neither Labor nor Liberal policies will fix the problem.
- Michael Read and Samantha Hutchinson
Thousands expected to apply for stamp duty refunds in NSW
The NSW government anticipates it will receive 2500 applications for stamp duty refunds, with 6000 expected annually.
- Hannah Wootton
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Minns sidelines genuine tax reform in favour of cheap headlines
A quick election headline for NSW Labor’s Chris Minns would casually dump a breakthrough tax reform.
- The AFR View
Labor’s promise to axe first-home stamp duty will ‘drive up prices’
One of Australia’s leading housing market economists says NSW Labor leader Chris Minns’ expanded stamp duty concession will worsen housing affordability.
- Michael Read
Labor promises more first home buyer help in major election pitch
NSW Labor has vowed to scrap stamp duty for first home buyers on properties of up to $800,000, and give concessions for homes up to $1m, drawing a contrast with Liberal plans to abolish stamp duty in favour of a land tax.
- Samantha Hutchinson
November 2022
NSW paves way to end stamp duty with new first home buyer choice
Premier Dominic Perrottet reckons the new legislation could shave two years off the time it takes for a buyer to save a first deposit.
- Samantha Hutchinson
