Can We Fix Housing Without Hurting Investors?
About this episode
The episode explores the divisive topic of negative gearing in Australian property, featuring a discussion on economic principles and potential reforms.
Negative gearing is one of the most divisive topics in Australian property—and few people are willing to have a genuine conversation about it. In this episode, Chris Bates and Veronica Morgan sit down with renowned economist Saul Eslake to explore one of the biggest policy debates in housing, challenging long-held assumptions on all sides of the argument. Rather than debating who's right or wrong, the conversation unpacks the economic principles behind negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, and why tax policy shapes where Australians choose to invest. Saul explains why he believes a more neutral tax system would create a fairer economy, while Chris and Veronica question what the proposed reforms could mean for housing supply, investor behaviour, rents, and affordability. The discussion extends well beyond property tax. They examine Australia's reliance on mum-and-dad investors, the role of institutional investment and social housing, why encouraging new housing supply matters, and whether Australia has become too dependent on property as a wealth-building vehicle. Along the way, they tackle productivity, government policy, and the difficult trade-offs involved in…
People in this episode
Host: Chris Bates
Guests: Veronica Morgan, Saul Eslake
Topics covered
- negative gearing
- housing policy
- economic principles
- tax policy
- investor behavior
- housing supply
Keywords
- negative gearing
- housing supply
- capital gains tax
- investor behavior
- affordability
- property tax
- wealth-building
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Australian property
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