4 April 2019

REIA Budget highlights importance of property to a healthy economy

The 2019/20 Budget provides a fiscal stimulus by increasing infrastructure spending and delivering higher disposable incomes to 10 million low to middle income earners, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA).

“Whilst there were no major surprises in the Budget, the measures will lift the brake of economic activity,” REIA President Adrian Kelly said.

“The Budget papers forecast private investment to fall by 7 per cent in 2020/21 and a further 4 per cent in 2021/22.

“The Papers highlighted the importance of the housing sector to economic well being pointing out that a 10 per cent drop in housing prices reduces real GDP by about 0.5 per cent.

“Given the recent falls in house prices and the possibility of further falls, which will be exacerbated if the Opposition’s housing taxation proposals are implemented, it is timely to see the importance of the housing sector to Australia’s economy illustrated.

“With the Government’s commitment to not altering taxation arrangements for future property investors this means that the increased disposable incomes of low to middle income earners can be spent on goods and services and keep the economy ticking over rather than higher rents and worrying about decreasing equity,” concluded Mr Kelly.

The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) is the national professional association for real estate agents in Australia. For further information or to interview REIA President Adrian Kelly please contact Helen Hull at [email protected] or 0419 642 961.

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