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ACOSS welcomes expert panel on social housing The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has welcomed the establishment of an expert panel to advise the federal government on improving Australia’s troubled social housing system as more than 173,000 households remain on waiting lists around the country. ‘Hopefully this will be the impetus for a leap forward on how best to provide housing assistance for the most disadvantaged people in Australia,’ said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. ‘It is simply unacceptable that so many people are currently going without access to basic affordable housing in our rich country, and ACOSS has been arguing for coordi-
nated action across all levels of governments. ‘We are particularly pleased to see three members of the National Affordable Housing Summit Group, of which ACOSS is a member, on the panel. Professor Julian Disney, Chair of The Summit Group; Adrian Pisarski, from National Shelter; and Carol Croce from the Community Housing Federation of Australia, have a wealth of knowledge and accumulated experience in this field. ‘We congratulate the government for bringing such a diverse collective of experts together, spanning the community housing sector, private
financial institutions, and tenants’ organisations. ‘What’s also needed is for serious action to minimise inefficient investments encouraged under Australia’s tax system, which is contributing to our stratospheric housing costs and leading to more people seeking public housing. ‘The tax system encourages people to borrow and invest too much in property, especially at the top end of the market. ‘The low rate of tax on capital gains and the ability of taxpayers to deduct their investment losses against their wages were rightly targeted by the Henry Report. ‘Reforms
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in these areas could be linked to well-targeted incentives to invest in new affordable housing. ‘We need to find innovative ways to boost the supply of social housing for people in need if we are to prevent more people becoming home-
less, and to have any chance of meeting the shortfall of around 150,000 social housing homes by 2020. ‘For far too long the social housing system has been inadequate and we urge state governments of all political persuasion to work together with the Commonwealth on this crucial reform.’
REIA welcomes Treasury comments on stamp duties The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has welcomed the comments made by the secretary of the Treasury, Dr Martin Parkinson, that there needs to be a move to abolish state-based real estate stamp duties. Mr Parkinson identified stamp duties as the biggest drag on productivity and a tax that inhibits economic adjustment. ‘The REIA has long advocated reform of state property taxes,’ said REIA acting president Pamela Bennet. ‘State-based stamp duties are inequitable, inefficient and an unstable source of revenue for state governments. ‘Stamp duties represent additional costs to property transactions, discouraging
turnover of housing and distorting choices between renting and buying and between moving house and renovating. ‘Abolition of stamp duties would not only improve mobility but also improve social and economic development. ‘The abolition of all state stamp duties and replacement with more efficient taxes will improve household consumption, a measure of economic wellbeing, by around two per cent. ‘The REIA will be taking this position to the Tax Forum in October and will be seeking a commitment from the state and Commonwealth governments to take an agreed and coordinated approach to an agenda for reform.’
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The Byron Shire Echo October 11, 2011 49