REIA welcomes inquiry into housing affordability and supply

19 August 2021

"REIA has welcomed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia. Find out more."

Author: Real Estate Institute of Australia

The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has welcomed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia.

REIA President Adrian Kelly said the inquiry will address property taxation in the form of stamp or transfer duties and land tax which are among the largest barriers to housing affordability and consistently performing markets.

“Families across all the states and territories, except the ACT, are paying more stamp duty today than 20 years ago and that is time to get serious about stamp duty reform.

“Australia has had the fourth-fastest house price growth out of the world’s advanced economies over the past 20 years.

“Politicians cannot on one hand gripe about housing affordability; and then on the other say we need this income from home buyers and owners to fund public sector operations,” Mr Kelly said.

Housing supply and affordability is a national issue

REIA is calling on the Council of Federal Financial Relations to take this issue seriously at a national level, rather than shifting responsibility to the states and territories.

Mr Kelly said the massive market entry from first home buyers in both 2009 and 2020 show the power of waiving taxes and stimulus programs in boosting house ownership.

“The lack of national coordination has led to limited supply of both new and existing listings across the board. Now more than ever we need fact-based and bi-partisan support on policy issues for home buyers and home owners,” Mr Kelly said.