Clearing the smoke and noise of Negative Gearing

Clearing the smoke and noise of Negative Gearing

As the federal election campaign grinds into gear, it’s Negative Gearing that’s made much noise. Along with Capital Gains Tax concessions. And their impact on affordable housing and social equity.

And not only noise but smoke – mostly from partisan point-scoring, clouding important issues of concern to thinking Christian voters.

The Uniting Church believes taxation should be both fair and efficient – and that voters should be as well informed as possible about policies on offer.

Our Social Justice Forum has prepared some briefs on key questions. What are the facts? How do these policies affect social equity? Housing supply? Youth? What do the experts say? And how does the Bible inform our choices?

These resources were developed for Uniting Church, Synod of NSW and ACT congregations and their communities, drawing from existing Assembly statements and submissions. They’re intended to complement a UnitingJustice Australia’s election resource due mid-May, covering several policy issues.

We hope this material will help Church members weigh up the issues and policies, evaluating the positions of candidates. We encourage you to use our resources to stimulate discussion and debate within your communities, and especially to ask questions of those seeking your vote.

The resources are:

Federal tax concessions on housing investment: neither fair nor effective 
A two-page outline of the key issues, problems, options and suggested actions

Tax concessions on housing investment and young Australians 
A two-page summary of the key tax-housing issues and their impact on young people

Land, wealth and provision for life in the Biblical tradition 
Some theological insights on how the Bible informs our view of housing policies

What are the experts / major parties saying about Federal tax policy and affordable housing?
2 x 1p summary tables of their positions, recommendations, quotes and sources

Federal tax concessions and the housing crisis
More detail in this 12-page backgrounder on the issues, impacts, Uniting Church positions and recommended actions

For more information, please email the Social Justice Forum.

Meanwhile SJF continues to campaign for better affordable housing at state/territory level… you can email your NSW state MP or ACT Assembly member at our action page.

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