Property Tax Plan Draws Strong Opposition From Voters

The latest budget from Australia’s centre‑left government has ignited a sharp backlash among the public, according to two influential polls.

Key Points

Tax Break Cuts
The government announced changes that would reduce tax breaks for property investors, aiming to level the playing field across generations.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics argue that the new rules favour older and wealthier homeowners, while many voters fear the measures could hurt the economy.
Public Opinion
Almost half of respondents in a post‑budget survey believed the reforms would damage economic growth.
More than six in ten said the housing reforms were either a mistake or would not matter at all.
The budget received a net approval rating of –25, the lowest in many years.
Party Support
The ruling party’s core support remained flat at 31 % of primary votes.
The prime minister retained the highest personal approval, holding a steady –17 % rating.
The conservative opposition leader’s favourability edged up by one point, while support for the coalition slipped slightly.
A smaller right‑wing party gained three points in overall votes, indicating a shift toward more extreme options.

Additional Poll Findings (1,800 voters)
The budget pulled back primary support for the ruling party by three points.
Support shifted toward the right‑wing party, which gained two points, while the traditional coalition slipped below it.
The opposition leader now tops polls as the preferred prime minister, ahead of the ruling party’s leader by a narrow margin.
Demographic Breakdown
Older voters, property owners, and investors were most upset: roughly 40 % in each group said the tax changes hurt their view of the government.
Younger Australians and renters were less critical, showing that the issue divides the population along age lines.
Campaign Promise
The government had promised no changes to housing taxes during its 2025 election campaign, a pledge that may now be questioned after the budget’s reception.