Latest News & Commentary
Environment minister Greg Hunt’s new ‘value capture’ language
Environment minister Greg Hunt, on behalf of the Turnbull government, is offering new language about ‘value capture’ – a fresh way to fund infrastructure using the uplift in land values from civic investment. From a speech to be delivered to the Sydney Business...
Rezoning in Queensland rife for further investigation
If only 4 Corners was edgy enough to cover this important work, because as Fairfax's Michael Pascoe said, this research should be triggering a royal commission. Cross-posted from Cameron Murray's Fresh Economic Thinking blog How to get your land rezoned: A QLD story...
The road to neo-serfdom
Late last year, the NSW Liberal/National government revealed plans to sell off the NSW Lands Office and retained JPMorgan to produce a scoping study. The Victorian Liberals tried this on before the last state election, and lost. Many will simply see this as part of...
Support a GST increase? Think about the children first
By Michael Janda Online business reporter with the ABC. Reposted from The Drum Increasing the GST is widely presented as the logical, perhaps the only, solution to Australia's revenue shortfall, but it is a deeply flawed tax and there are better alternatives, writes...
Friendly Jordies versus Property Speculators
Referencing our eighth Speculative Vacancies Report, Friendly Jordies breaks it down for the everyday person. When are politicians going to get more proactive on the incredible advantages property speculators enjoy? Resources: Zine - Shareholders of Planet Earth Roots...
Humans vs Houses: Australia’s perverse tax system
by Cameron Murray Reposted from macrobusiness I often joke that my investment property earns more than I do. Thinking more about this lead me to the realisation that my investment property has a privileged position in the tax system when compared to a measly old human...
Housing supply fails – Speculative Vacancies instead
A collection of the week's radio interviews regarding our 8th report into Speculative Vacancies: With Catherine Cashmore on our favourite weekly show, the Renegade Economists: Vacancies Up, House Prices Up by Renegade Economists on Mixcloud Tony Biggs interviews Karl...
Currency Cold War Breakout
In other news, our colleague Michael Hudson (who will appear on next week's Renegade Economists radio show) provides his unique insight into geo-politics. Cross-posted from his site: On December 8, the IMF’s Chief Spokesman Gerry Rice sent a note saying: “The...
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
The economic impact of stamp duty, a study by Deloitte Access Economics for the Property Council of Australia released yesterday, finds Australia’s GDP would increase by $3.3 billion and real consumption by $9.7 billion if conveyancing stamp duty was replaced by an...
Vacant homes up 28% despite housing crisis
Media Release: Speculative Vacancies Defy Housing Affordability Pressures - Again 82,724 properties lie vacant and unoccupied across Greater Melbourne, according to Prosper Australia’s 2015 Speculative Vacancies Report released today. Key findings: • 4.8% of...
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