Grant schemes only push up home prices Team myth busting
Michael Ferguson’s recent announcement of the state government’s “Stamping Out Stamp Duty” scheme is yet another politically motivated program supposed to reduce the costs of firsttime homes. It’s another ruse that is ideologically driven rather than based on evidence and good economic policy. No grant scheme, subsidy or concession in the grab bag of schemes since Menzies’ first homeowners’ grant, has done anything to reduce the cost of a significant number of first homes. Economists have proven that they actually increase prices.
Respected economic commentator Saul Eslake calls them the “builders’ and land developers’ profit margin expansion grants”! Add in house vendors and estate agents.
The couple quoted in the press release are spending the additional money on renovating a house, not reducing the size of their mortgage.
If not used for renovations, the additional money will enable buyers to bid up prices or buy more expensive houses. It does nothing to increase the availability of housing.
The government should be putting money into equity sharing that reduces the deposit required and more affordable housing, rather than indirect and inefficient subsidies. Malcolm Cowan
West Launceston
Like many, I’m sick and tired of the myths and misinformation that has been pedalled by the opposers of the stadium and/or Tassie team over the past few years.
Starting with the AFL is bullying
Tasmania into building a stadium, a convenient narrative for the opposers of the stadium, but a completely untrue statement. Despite it not being a criteria for a team in the Carter report, Peter Gutwein committed Tasmania to a stadium at a press conference, shortly before exiting the building.
Then in the past two weeks the current and former Greens leaders showed their complete ignorance and lack of knowledge as to how a stadium or sporting fixture operates.
Rosalie Woodruff said that York Park has the best playing surface in the AFL. Correct Rosalie, but akin to having the best lawn but crappiest house in the street. Go to WA, SA or VIC, tour the facilities and see how 2nd rate UTAS is, then assess.
As for Cassie O’Connor with her embarrassing and laughable suggestion that we play home games at York Park and away games at Bellerive. I mean really?
For the record and in footy fixtures it’s been UTAS Stadium and Blundstone Arena for about a decade. Oppose away but stop being lazy, do your due diligence, you would if it was forestry.
There are already well over 100,000 local Foundation Members of the Devils, making the ‘most of my constituents don’t support the stadium’ argument seem improbable. I would love to see the sample size, location and demographic for this.
These kids and teen members will be voters in the future and would like to know why we didn’t get a team if it gets squashed. They may not like the answers.
Health, housing, education and policing are underfunded and resourced in every state and territory. This can only be changed incrementally and requires support from all elected members and levels of government. No Tasmanian team doesn’t mean that there will be $375m