Negative Gearing

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:59): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier be advocating to the Prime Minister on behalf of South Australians concerning negative gearing and, if so, what will be the nature of that advocacy?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (15:00): It won't surprise the shadow treasurer that this government is focused on housing policy to the extent that we can control it and, of course, our control is very substantial indeed. It's why we have released a Housing Roadmap that seeks to undo the dramatic underinvestment in water infrastructure that has hindered growth of housing supply for a very long time indeed.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford! The Premier will be heard in silence.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. One of the biggest investments in water infrastructure in this state's history has been facilitated on the top of one of the biggest land releases in the history of the state and one of the biggest investments in public housing that has occurred over the last 30 years, and we are very pleased that the South Australian Labor Party has actually made decisions to cut taxes to unlock housing supply.

We are the government that hasn't just reduced stamp duty but abolished stamp duty for any new build for a first-home buyer in the state of South Australia. Again, that presents us with an opportunity to compare and contrast because, of course, the policy of those on the other side of the house during the course of their time in government, when it comes to taxation on property, was to make a decision to retrospectively increase land tax. That's what those opposite did. They were all there, lining up to make a retrospective imposition on hardworking mums and dads in respect to land tax. So those on this side of the house will stick to cutting taxes when it comes to unlocking housing supply, while we know those opposite decide to increase taxes.