Greens are targeting tax breaks for investors to make buying a home affordable for renters, Max Chandler-Mather says

Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 16-Feb-24

The Greens are hoping to use their balance of power in the Senate to get the federal government to cut back on tax breaks for property investors in return for them supporting its Help to Buy shared equity scheme. The Greens are hoping their policies will reduce house prices and therefore make buying a home more affordable for renters. Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather contends that the problem with Australia’s housing market is that the tax system essentially forces prices up, often far in excess of wage increases.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Property group, Xenophon urge CGT reform

Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 13-Jul-16

The Australian Labor Party estimated that the capital gains tax break on property sales will cost $A8.6bn in lost government revenue by 2019, compared with $A4.2bn in 2014. Senator Nick Xenophon believes that the Federal Government should introduce CGT reforms as part of its strategy to reduce the Budget deficit. The Property Council of Australia supports reducing the CGT concession from 50 per cent at present to 40 per cent, compared with Labor’s proposal to reduce it to 25 per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

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

Labor’s crackdown on negative gearing ‘a threat to small business’

Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 7-Mar-16

CPA Australia’s senior tax counsel Paul Drum has warned that the Federal Opposition’s proposed changes to the negative gearing regime could adversely affect small business owners, particularly sole proprietors. The Australian Labor Party proposes to restrict negative gearing to new properties if it wins the 2016 federal election, but shadow treasurer Chris Bowen rejects suggestions that the reforms would affect business financing.

CORPORATES
CPA AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NSW BUSINESS CHAMBER LIMITED, CRYSTAL WEALTH PARTNERS LIMITED, OMNIWEALTH PTY LTD

‘Spending cuts must fund tax relief’

Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 2 : 1-Mar-16

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has told a meeting of Coalition MPs of the need to reduce income taxes over the long-term, stressing that this must be achieved via spending cuts in the Budget. Meanwhile, backbenchers expressed concern about proposed changes to the negative gearing regime for property investors, with one MP warning that any such reforms will be rejected by the party room. Morrison also said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is fully prepared to seek a double-dissolution election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Turnbull: no change to capital gains tax

Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 23-Feb-16

The Australian Government’s options for tax reform have become more limited after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Parliament that changes to the capital gains tax regime are not on its agenda. Turnbull warned that the Opposition’s proposed capital gains tax reforms will deter investment in Australia, while its policy on negative gearing would adversely affect house prices. Changes to superannuation tax concessions and tax deductions for work-related expenses are among the few tax reform options that are still available to the Government.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, NEWSPOLL

Negative gearing debate sparks divisions, passion

Original article by Anne Hyland, Larry Schlesinger
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 17-Feb-16

Mayne Pharma director Roger Corbett has urged the Australian Government to leave the negative gearing regime unchanged, arguing that it has increased the wealth of people on middle incomes. Yellow Brick Road’s Mark Bouris also opposes any change to negative gearing, warning of the impact on economic growth and the investment market. However, former Perpetual fund manager Peter Morgan and ex-Reserve Bank board member Warwick McKibbin favour the abolition of negative gearing.

CORPORATES
MAYNE PHARMA GROUP LIMITED – ASX MYX, YELLOW BRICK ROAD HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX YBR, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WAL-MART STORES INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY