A call to refrain from any new property taxes, introduction of a stamp duty concession and expanding Keystart are top of the agenda in the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) state budget submission this year given the property industry’s importance to the broader WA economy and enduring lacklustre market conditions.
“The property industry contributed over $21 billion to Gross State Product in 2017-18 and employs 1.3 times more people than the mining industry in WA,” UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck said.
“These figures represent why the state government needs to support the industry in this budget and resist using property as a soft target for revenue raising, as has happened in previous years,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“We were disappointed last year when the Treasurer pushed ahead with introducing the Foreign Buyers Surcharge despite poor market conditions and the critical need to attract investment,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“The surcharge has been effective in closing up shop to our foreign buyers, at a time when WA could least afford it and had a point of difference to the eastern states. We certainly hope there aren’t any hidden surprises this time around,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“Supporting the health of the property industry into market recovery is critical to the people of WA, particularly in terms of employment opportunities and consumer confidence,” Ms Steinbeck said.
UDIA would also like to the see the state government introduce a stamp duty concession for downsizers.
“As a short-term action, a stamp duty concession for seniors moving into ‘liveable homes’ would remove one of the most significant barriers that prevents people from moving into more appropriate homes for their needs,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“This initiative would also encourage the development of a greater supply of homes that better suit our evolving housing needs,” Ms Steinbeck said.
This measure will also assist in ensuring new communities, such as METRONET precincts, have a more diverse range of housing stock, while supporting local jobs in the development industry.
Turning to first home buyers, UDIA wants the government to expand the eligibility and threshold criteria for Keystart loans by 25%.
“Housing affordability remains a critical challenge for many people across WA despite recent reductions in average house and land prices,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“Keystart is an important tool in getting more people moving from the rental market into home ownership,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“Supply of rental accommodation is tightening as people are unable to afford to buy their own home,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“This will put a drain on state resources in the future as more people moving into retirement remain in rental accommodation rather than having the security of their own home,” Ms Steinbeck said.
In the longer term, UDIA would like the state government to take a longer-term approach to taxation policy and consider the implementation of a broad-based land tax in place of the current stamp duty regime.
“Stamp duty is an inequitable tax that puts up barriers to people transitioning into appropriate housing for their needs,” Ms Steinbeck said. “It also does not provide a consistent revenue source for government as it is reliant on people purchasing property.”
“A broad-based land tax such as that introduced in the ACT would distribute tax more efficiently, equitably and more consistently over the term of government,” Ms Steinbeck said. “This would be smart taxation policy for the future.”
UDIA has also made recommendations regarding infrastructure planning and provision as well as the Strategic Assessment of Perth and Peel.
For the full state budget submission, download here.
Ends.
For more information:
Gemma Osiejak
Executive Manager Communications and Marketing
UDIA WA
P: 0421 506 819
E: gosiejak@udiawa.com.au