{{ propApi.searchIcon }}
{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights Economics Insights Data & forecasts Tailored research & analysis Advocacy & policy Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions News & inspiration Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
For your business Contracts Online Safety systems & solutions Advertise jobs HIA SafeScan Member perks Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Ampol fuel savings See all Industry insurance HIA Insurance Services Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance Apprentices Why host a HIA apprentice? Hire an apprentice Support & guidance Contracts & compliance support Building & planning services
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right Building codes Australian standards Getting it right on site See all Building materials & products Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all Managing your business Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all Managing your safety Safety rules Working with silica See all Building your business Growing your business Communication for your business See all Other subjects Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer How do I apply? Frequently asked questions Study with us Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand Professional development courses A job in the industry Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Further your career Find jobs
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Join HIA Sign me up How do I become a member? What's in it for me? Mates rates Our podcasts Made To Build Built Different HIA Building Australia Building the Hunter Our initiatives HIA Building Women GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom & design hub Get involved Become an award judge Join a committee Partner with us Support for you Charitable Foundation Mental health program Get to know us Our members Our people
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards Awards winners Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2025 Australian Home of the Year Enter online Industry events Events in the next month Economic outlook National Conference Events calendar
HIA shop
HIA shop $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Most popular products National Construction Code Vol 1 & 2 Waterproofing wet areas AS 3740:2021 HIA Guide to Waterproofing HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions Top categories Building codes & standards Contracts & documents Guides & manuals Safety products Signage For your business Contracts Online Digital Australian Standards Digital Resource Library Forecasts & data
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Lifting taxes won’t get more homes built

Media release

Lifting taxes won’t get more homes built

Media release
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) will be sending a simple message to the inquiry into Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on residential property when it appears before the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount tomorrow – if you tax something more, you will get less of it.

“Housing is already one of the most highly taxed sectors in the Australian economy,” HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin said today.

“Independent research tells us that nearly half the cost of a new house and land package in capital cities is made up of taxes, fees and charges, and the tax burden on apartments is a similar story. 

“This is already reducing the ability of the market to deliver new homes, because more and more the feasibility does not stack up for projects of all sizes, even when approvals are secured.

“Changing CGT arrangements will be akin to a new tax on an already overburdened market.

“Last year two in every five homes was financed by an investor to add to the supply of rentals, so the contribution they make to new housing can’t be overstated. If we increase the tax on investors there is little doubt that they will seek opportunities elsewhere, or if they remain in the housing market there will be upward pressure on rents to compensate.

“The construction industry is currently well below capacity, with the first year of the Federal Government’s commitment to build 1.2 million homes yielding around 60,000 homes less than the required target. 

“Therefore, every investor that leaves the market represents one less rental property, not an additional family into their own home.

“The only way that Australia’s housing crisis for both owner-occupiers and renters will be addressed is through building new homes. It is a quite simple equation based on the fact that we have more households seeking accommodation than we do homes.

“Housing supply is now a macroeconomic problem. If we want to ease inflation, improve productivity and restore affordability, we must remove the barriers preventing new homes from being built.

“HIA’s recent 2026–27 Federal Pre-Budget Submission outlined a suite of supply-side reforms across taxation, finance, infrastructure, planning, skills and regulation to support delivery of the government’s target.

“The focus of government must be on reducing barriers to increasing supply of housing, rather than going to back to the well yet again to try and squeeze more revenue out of housing,” concluded Ms Jocelyn Martin.

For more information please contact:

Jocelyn Martin

Managing Director

Joe Shanahan

Manager, Communications & Media
Latest articles
View all news $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
23 Feb
Crackdown needed as site theft adds to builders' insurance burden

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s move to crack down on copper and scrap metal theft, warning that construction site theft is adding to the risk that insurers are pricing into premiums for Tasmanian builders.

23 Feb
Infrastructure funding must drive new housing supply in Queensland

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Queensland Government’s continued investment in enabling infrastructure through Round 2 of the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund, but the funding must be tightly targeted to ensure it genuinely delivers new housing supply,” HIA Executive Director Queensland, Michael Roberts, said today.

23 Feb
Lifting taxes wont get more homes built

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) will be sending a simple message to the inquiry into Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on residential property when it appears before the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount tomorrow – if you tax something more, you will get less of it.

22 Feb
HIA welcomes Tasmanian Government's leadership on NCC pause

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s finalisation of the Building Amendment Bill 2026, ahead of its imminent introduction to Parliament. The Bill will formally pause further implementation of new National Construction Code (NCC) requirements in Tasmania.