“Melbournians who own property are being shortchanged by this current Labor Government to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars; and according to the government, they think that’s fine because it’s making housing more affordable,” said Ben Kingsley (pictured right), chair at the Property Investors Council of Australia.
The organisation attributed Melbourne’s weaker performance to a range of Victorian policy settings. It cited the COVID debt levy, lower land tax thresholds, broader vacant land taxes, short-stay levies, more than 150 rental reforms and higher property-related taxes, levies and charges.
PICA said these measures had encouraged more investors to sell and had reduced investor demand in the Melbourne market, affecting values for all property owners.
The report also pointed to wider economic pressures in Victoria, including weaker wage growth, higher unemployment among mainland states, declining per capita output and record state debt.
“Property owners expect and plan for most of their future wealth to come from the property they own,” Kingsley said. “That’s why they borrow money and pay the interest cost to get into the market.