Chris Minns Talks Housing Reform But Keeps Tax
Mark Speakman
NSW Leader of the Opposition
Damien Tudehope
Shadow Treasurer
Scott Farlow
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
NSW Government taxes and charges on new housing remain at record levels and the highest in the country notwithstanding today’s Government announcement. The Opposition welcomes giving developers a choice to do works in kind to partially meet those taxes and charges, but the total amount they have to meet remains the same.
Nearly two years after slapping homebuyers with the Housing and Productivity Contribution, Labor now wants credit for releasing a draft guideline that gives developers a way to do the Government’s job for it — building basic infrastructure. But the tax still stands.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Labor is always quick to blame others but slow to deliver.
“This announcement is an admission that Labor can’t build the infrastructure needed to support housing — so now they’re begging the private sector to do it instead.
But the $12,000 tax per home still exists, driving up costs and driving down supply,” Mr Speakman said.
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor’s move is too little, too late.
“The $12,000-a-home tax is still there, it’s still pushing up prices, and it’s still holding up supply.
While the Government tries to distract with this announcement, the real sting in the tail is that all HPC concessions come to an end on 30 June.
Today’s announcement is an attempt to soften a policy that’s done nothing but make the housing crisis worse,” Mr Tudehope said.
Shadow Planning and Housing Minister Scott Farlow said Labor was pretending to fix a problem it created.
“Developers have been asking for this. The Government promised it two years ago and they have been sitting on their hands ever since.
This isn’t reform — it’s a panic patch job, and the tax hasn’t gone anywhere. Housing is still less affordable because of Labor,” Mr Farlow said.
The Housing and Productivity Contribution, introduced by Labor in October 2023, adds up to $12,000 per new home in charges. That cost still applies. The only change today is a draft guideline letting developers pay the tax by delivering infrastructure such as roads or schools, or land themselves.
Two years on from Labor’s Housing Tax, we still don’t know where the money is going with Labor failing to release their Infrastructure Opportunities Plan.
Labor isn’t solving the housing crisis — it’s taxing it.
https://nswliberal.org.au/news/chris-minns-talks-housing-reform-but-keeps-the-tax