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$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Planning and tax reform important steps forward for Victoria

Media release

Planning and tax reform important steps forward for Victoria

Media release
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Victorian government announcement of a 12-month cut to stamp duty for all off-the-plan units, townhouses and apartments,” HIA Executive Director, Victoria, Keith Ryan said today.

“Stamp duty is an inefficient and ineffective tax that drives up the cost of housing, and a reduction in this burden is a step in the right direction to boost housing supply,” added Mr Ryan.

“This announcement follows an expansion of ‘activity centres’ where state-led planning controls will make it easier for planning approvals to be granted for medium density housing.

“Expanding these activity centres to more areas will make it easier for developers to identify suitable locations for projects and plan out approaches to precinct designs closer to consumers’ existing homes, workplaces and family members.

“HIA broadly supports these measures, though the government needs to ensure these policies support the delivery of all forms of housing and not just high-rise towers. 

“Last year the Victorian government released its Housing Statement with a target of building 800,000 homes in ten years. To achieve this target all types of housing are needed including medium density and greenfield housing.

“The industry continues to face a number of significant challenges in boosting housing supply. This includes the costs and time associated with delivering the key ‘last mile’ enabling infrastructure to get projects shovel ready faster, the continuing raft of cascading regulatory changes, outdated home building contract laws and increasing costs and decreasing availability of insurance.

“Today’s announcement of planning and tax reform is an important step forward to increase housing supply, though further targeted reforms are needed to ensure builders can deliver these much-needed homes for Victorians,” concluded Mr Ryan.

For more information please contact:

Keith Ryan

Executive Director - Victoria
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