Industry Super chief economist, Dr Stephen Anthony, has proposed that affordable housing tax credits could be the missing link in resolving Australia’s housing affordability crisis.
Anthony said the tax credits would allow institutional investors to write down or write off every dollar invested without impacting vital rate-of-return benchmarks upon which project viability often rests.
The national shortage of sub-market rentals and emergency housing is now 350,000, and in NSW and Victoria, 40 to 60 per cent of urban households are locked out of rental markets, he said.
Housing distress leads to homelessness, wage stagnation and welfare dependency - and the productivity loss levies an economic burden on all levels of government, Dr Anthony said.
In its pre-election policy document, the FSC highlighted 15 priority reforms, with superannuation featuring prominently, urging both major parties to avoid changing super taxes without a comprehensive tax review.
The Grattan Institute has labelled the Australian super system as “too complicated” and has proposed a three-pronged reform strategy to simplify superannuation in retirement.
Super funds delivered a strong 2024 result, with the median growth fund returning 11.4 per cent, driven by strong international sharemarket performance, new data has shown.
Australian Ethical has seen FUM growth of 27 per cent in the financial year to date.