“If renters lose, they are sleeping in their car on the street. If a property investor has to sell their home, that might be bad, but they get a huge sale price out of that home.”
Macrobusiness Chief Economist Leith van Onselen says record migration levels are the reason why Australia has a rental crisis.
“Australia’s population grew by 660,000 people in the year to September,” Mr Onselen told Sky News host Sharri Markson.
He pointed out net overseas migrants made up 83 per cent of the figure.
“In the September quarter, we had 145,000 net overseas migrants, which was the second highest quarterly number in Australia’s history.
“These numbers are off the charts.”
Ann-Maree Eastman, who owns several properties with her husband Phillip, jumped on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday night to complain about the Greens’ plan to limit negative gearing and Capital Gains Tax handouts.
“Why do politicians feel that they need to keep taxing or changing the rules for how to claim our legitimate business expenses?” Ann-Maree asked on the program.
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“Owning a property is a business, and takes time and effort to make sure all is running smoothly.
“I’m just so angry that, as a landlord, I shouldn’t have to feel guilty about owning property – or properties in our case.
“Why does it appear that all landlords are demonised and put in the same bracket?”
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Ann-Maree Eastman appeared on Q&A on Monday night where she claimed she felt “demonised” for owning properties. Picture: ABC
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“I just don’t think it’s fair”
Max Chandler-Mather, the Greens’ housing spokesperson, answered Ann-Maree’s question by stating why his party is hoping to end tax handouts.
“We have had a tax system that has encouraged people to buy up property investments and then write off any losses they make on those investments on their tax,” he said.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t think that’s fair.”
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Mr Chandler-Mather also called for caps on rental increases, prompting Ann-Maree to shake her head in disagreement.
The Daily Mail reports host Patricia Karvelas pointed out that interest rate rises had hurt many landlords who face higher mortgage repayments, but Mr Chandler-Mather was quick to quash that argument.
“The worst consequence (for landlords) is selling an investment property and making a huge capital gain,” he said, prompting applause from the audience.
“If renters lose, they are sleeping in their car on the street. If a property investor has to sell their home, that might be bad, but they get a huge sale price out of that home.”
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Greens’ housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather. Picture: ABC
“We’re also finding it hard”
Ann-Maree retorted by claiming she and her husband were “self-funded retirees”, and they only increased rents according to “market value”.
“I compared last year’s tax return to the year before’s tax return – our gross rent was up three per cent,” she said.
“Our interest payments were double the year before.
“We are also finding it hard. We have to find the money to pay that interest so we’re in just as much of a poop.”
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Sydney’s rental market has become increasingly difficult over the past year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
“You’re not ‘self-funded’, you’re funded by renters”
The Daily Mail reports people were quick to jump on Ann-Maree’s comments online.
“Sorry, but retirees depending on income from renters – you are not ‘self-funded’, you are funded by renters,” one person wrote on X.
“Owning a home should not be a business, it’s a human right,” another person wrote.
“If you’re worried about your business when kids are growing up in tents, that is disgusting and you should be ashamed.”
