The Nationals’ candidate for Gippsland East, Gemma Rendell, says The Nationals in government will tackle Victoria’s housing crisis by assisting more young people to achieve the dream of home ownership with significant policy change.
Ms Rendell said Labor had created a planning system that was delaying new housing, driving up costs and making it harder for Victorians to buy or rent.
“We simply won’t solve the housing crisis unless we build more homes, and that means removing unnecessary delays that are holding up development,” she said.
“The Nationals will cut planning red tape by introducing clear timeframes and greater accountability for cultural heritage assessments and government approval agencies, giving developers and home builders the certainty they need to get more homes built sooner.”
“We will also establish clear timelines and published fees for cultural heritage processes, introduce annual performance audits and require greater accountability from government agencies involved in housing approvals.
“Reducing unnecessary delays means more homes can be built sooner, increasing supply and helping ease pressure on housing prices.”
Ms Rendell said The Nationals would also help more Victorians enter the housing market by abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers purchasing homes valued up to $1 million, whether established or off-the-plan.
“Stamp duty is one of the biggest barriers facing young people trying to buy their first home. Removing it will save eligible buyers tens of thousands of dollars and help them get into the market sooner.”
She said The Nationals will also restore the $300,000 land tax-free threshold, reversing Labor’s land tax increases that had increased costs for property owners and placed upward pressure on rents.
“This will be made possible by pausing Labor’s costly Suburban Rail Loop, cutting corruption, reducing the public service and halting the massive cost overruns on major projects.
“When governments continue increasing taxes on housing, those costs inevitably flow through to renters and home buyers,” Ms Rendell said.
“Our plan tackles housing affordability from both sides – helping more homes get built while reducing the taxes that make buying and renting more expensive.”
Ms Rendell said everyone deserved the opportunity to own a home.
“Home ownership should be something young families aspire to, not something they think is beyond their reach.
“The Nationals in government will make it easier to build, easier to buy and easier to invest in housing, giving more Victorians the opportunity to own a home of their own.”
Caption: The Nationals’ candidate for Gippsland East, Gemma Rendell, says The Nationals in government will help more young people reach the dream of home ownership through a major policy reform aimed at making it achievable to enter the housing market.
