Labor risks $12bn housing hit

Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 24-Oct-18

Independent modelling by Cadence Economics has examined the likely impact of Labor’s proposed negative gearing and capital gains tax reforms on the residential property market. It concludes that the policy could result in new dwelling commencements falling by between 10,000 and 42,000 over a five-year period. This would in turn reduce construction activity by up to $12bn over this period and result in between 7,500 and 32,000 fewer jobs in the sector. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn notes that housing approvals have peaked since Labor announced its policy two years ago.

CORPORATES
CADENCE ECONOMICS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Labor win a housing game changer

Original article by Sarah Turner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 23-Aug-18

Brett Gillespie of Ellerston Capital says financial markets are not giving much consideration to the possibility that Labor will win the next federal election. He notes that a Labor government would have a major impact on the property market, given that Labor proposes to restrict negative gearing to new homes. Gillespie adds that a Labor win would also have implications for the sharemarket and the broader economy.

CORPORATES
ELLERSTON CAPITAL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, McGRATH LIMITED – ASX MEA, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, CSR LIMITED – ASX CSR, FLETCHER BUILDING LIMITED – ASX FBU, ADELAIDE BRIGHTON LIMITED – ASX ABC, DULUXGROUP LIMITED – ASX DLX, GWA GROUP LIMITED – ASX GWA, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, MIRVAC GROUP – ASX MGR, STOCKLAND – ASX SGP, GENWORTH MORTGAGE INSURANCE AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX GMA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Shorten’s team rich in assets

Original article by Ben Packham, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 26-Jun-18

Analysis of federal parliament’s register of pecuniary interests shows that many Labor MPs own at least one investment property. Tanya Plibersek, Anthony Albanese and Mark Dreyfus are among the Labor frontbenchers who will benefit from the party’s proposal to "grandfather" its changes to the negative gearing regime. Labor intends to abolish negative gearing for people entering the property market, although people who invest in new housing stock will be exempt from the change.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Labor tax plan would hit home prices

Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 12-Jun-18

RiskWise Property Research and Wargent Advisory have modelled the possible impact of Labor’s proposed changes to negative gearing on house prices. They found that the changes could lead to house price falls of up to 12 per cent in some parts of Australia, including Townsville and Mackay. House prices in Sydney and Melbourne could fall by nine per cent. With house prices already shaky, the property sector is urging Labor to scrap its plans. However, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has rejected this suggestion.

CORPORATES
RISKWISE PROPERTY RESEARCH, WARDENT ADVISORY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Top 10pc gain 80pc of CGT benefits

Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 22-Jan-18

The percentage of the yearly benefits of the capital gains tax discount that goes to the highest income earners has increased from 70 per cent to 80 per cent over the last 10 years or so, according to the Australian Taxation Office. Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute says this suggests that the 50 per cent discount on capital gains needs to be modified. The presence of the discount, when combined with negative gearing, is seen by experts as making the leverage of real estate a particularly attractive proposition for investors.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN HOUSING AND URBAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Labor to stick with negative gearing policy

Original article by Andrew Tillett, Misa Han
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 9-Jan-18

The Australian Labor Party has argued that a Treasury analysis produced almost two years ago demonstrates that its policy on negative gearing will boost housing affordability. The analysis, which was obtained under Freedom of Information laws, concluded that Labor’s proposed changes to the negative gearing and capital gains tax regimes would have relatively little negative effect on house prices. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has indicated that the proposed reforms will be part of Labor’s policy platform at the next federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Negative gearing not to blame

Original article by Philip Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 1-Dec-16

Negative gearing is unfairly blamed for distorting Australia’s residential property market. However, house prices are rising because of record low interest rates. Cheap credit makes property acquisitions attractive to investors. Falling house prices in Perth suggest that property is not necessarily an attractive asset in all circumstances. BIS Shrapnel expects this trend to continue.

CORPORATES
BIS SHRAPNEL PTY LTD, BETASHARES CAPITAL LIMITED

Negative gearing not to blame

Original article by Philip Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 1-Dec-16

Negative gearing is unfairly blamed for distorting Australia’s residential property market. However, house prices are rising because of record low interest rates. Cheap credit makes property acquisitions attractive to investors. Falling house prices in Perth suggest that property is not necessarily an attractive asset in all circumstances. BIS Shrapnel expects this trend to continue.

CORPORATES
BIS SHRAPNEL PTY LTD, BETASHARES CAPITAL LIMITED

Negative gearing back on table

Original article by Samantha Hutchinson
The Australian – Page: 6 : 7-Jul-16

Property industry experts are concerned that the Coalition may change its stance on the negative gearing regime in the wake of the federal election. There are indications that some crossbenchers may support the Australian Labor Party’s proposed negative gearing reforms, which could in turn force the Coalition to reconsider its commitment to the existing regime. However, at least two independents – Bob Katter and Cathy McGowan – support the existing rules on negative gearing.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY, CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Developers will cut jobs if Labor wins

Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 27-Jun-16

Research by the Urban Development Institute of Australia has found that the Federal Opposition’s proposed changes to the negative gearing regime would prompt many residential property developers to shed staff and build fewer homes. The survey also found that 72 per cent of respondents expect that rents would rise as a result of the changes to negative gearing, while more than 50 per cent expect that house prices would fall.

CORPORATES
URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SQM RESEARCH PTY LTD, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, STOCKLAND – ASX SGP, NATIONAL SHELTER