Australia’s last Liberal government has swung a housing pitch at young voters, promising a user tax on short-stay rentals, such as Airbnbs, to slash stamp duty for first-home buyers.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says stamp duty for homes worth up to $750,000 bought by first-time buyers will be waived if the Liberals are re-elected on March 23.
The plan would double the state’s existing stamp duty discount of 50 per cent and lift the value cap from $600,000, saving an extra 1500 prospective buyers up to $28,935.
“I want young Tasmanians to have that dream, that aspiration of owning their own home,” Mr Rockliff told reporters in Franklin on Sunday.
“I recognise that for now it’s out of reach for many, many young Tasmanians.”
The policy would apply to existing houses, units and apartments and run for two years until mid-2026.
It would cost $60 million over two years but be partially offset by a five per cent levy on short-stay rentals, unveiled earlier on Sunday.
We want more young Tasmanians to buy a home here, to build a career here, and raise a family here.
Only a re-elected majority Liberal Government and our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future will make it easier for Tasmanians to own their own home.https://t.co/GLgN69nSLC
— Jeremy Rockliff (@jeremyrockliff) February 18, 2024
Consumers would foot the bill for the proposed levy on short-stay platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz, which is expected to raise $11 million a year.
Hotels, pubs and other traditional accommodation operators would not be captured by the levy.
Mr Rockliff argued the surcharge would be mostly paid by interstate and overseas travellers, pointing to data showing 83 per cent of Tasmanian short-stay users not being local.
Victoria is introducing a 7.5 per cent consumer-facing levy on short stays from 2025 to raise $70 million a year for social housing.
NSW is considering its own rental booking surcharge, which is already in place in parts of Germany, France and the United States.
Airbnb backed the Tasmanian Liberals’ plan, describing tourism levies between three to five per cent as a fair and sustainable way to raise revenue for communities.
“Bringing in a simple short-stay levy rather than multiple regulations at a local council level around the state is the right call,” the company’s Australian and New Zealand head of public policy Michael Crosby told AAP in a statement.
Stayz also welcomed the levy and the government’s pledge not to impose night caps on short-term letting.
“We have long advocated for sensible levies that are set at reasonable levels,” said Stayz’ senior director of government and corporate affairs Eacham Curry.
But Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White said the short-stay levy amounted to a broken promise from the premier.
“(He) just a few short years ago said they would never impose a visitor tax on the accommodation sector,” she said.
“This is a government that’s trying to tax its way out of a cost-of-living crisis.”
Visiting Launceston, Ms White announced Labor would change the northern Tasmanian city’s general hospital redevelopment plan to include a childcare centre if it ends 10 years of Liberal rule.
Labor has already pledged $75 million to open more childcare services in schools, TAFE campuses, government office buildings and other sites.
“This would make it more affordable and accessible for Tasmanian families to go work and pay the bills,” Ms White said.
Tasmanians are heading to an early poll after the Rockliff government failed to resolve a stand-off with two crossbench independents.
