2026-04-01
House prices have risen yet again - by 2.1 per cent for the first quarter of the year and by 0.7 per cent in the month of March - according to new data from Cotality.
New analysis by E61 Institute has found wealthy property investors are leveraging the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing, turbocharging the housing crisis over decades.
The Greens say runaway house price increases are putting rental affordability and home ownership out of reach for millions, and fuelling the housing crisis.
A Greens-led Senate inquiry will examine intergenerational housing inequality in Australia, including tax settings, rental and homelessness policies, and public housing investment. This inquiry will investigate solutions for tackling intergenerational housing inequality to address the widening gap between current and future generations.
Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:
“In the midst of a housing crisis, households across Australia are being squeezed. Millions of people are hurting from mortgage and rental stress in a cost of living crisis.
“Once again, we see house prices increase. How much more do households have to endure before Labor acts?
“Australia’s housing crisis cannot be solved unless we tackle intergenerational inequality. We need solutions to get young people, first home buyers and renters access to affordable and secure housing. That’s why we have secured a Senate inquiry into this.
“Massive tax breaks for wealthy property investors are cooking our housing system. Negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts let cashed-up, wealthy investors outbid everyday Australians - and young people, single people, low income workers are the ones paying the price.
“For decades, successive governments have turbocharged house prices and driven up rents, putting billions of dollars in the pockets of property investors, property developers and the banks.
“Australia’s housing system is a generational lottery, where young people are faced with a lifetime of renting, precarious leases, and a housing market rigged against them. Housing should not be an intergenerational tug-of-war.
“We know tax breaks for wealthy property investors are a key driver of the housing crisis and intergenerational inequality but Labor refuses to act. This government has an opportunity to fix the housing crisis - but if they keep dodging real reform, they’ll lock a whole generation out of ever owning a home.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Charlotta Lomas - 0466 339 862