Land tax is socialist and should be banned

Stamp duty is an inefficient tax but it is better than paying a forever tax on your freehold land

Stamp duty makes it more difficult to purchase a home. Not only does it increase the initial outlay required, but it also adds to the strain of meeting stringent savings requirements to secure a mortgage. But make no mistake, a land tax for homeowners is worse. It is effectively rent on what should otherwise be freehold land.

The Morning Double Shot newsletter had this to say:

Michael de Percy is right about state governments’ land taxes: they demand people pay rent on their own land. Land taxes should go, but at the same time the rate of GST, which John Howard and Peter Costello hypothecated to the states in 1998 (in return for abolishing state taxes including land tax) should be upped to 15 per cent, with tied grants to the states slashed to zero – and personal income taxes cut, of course.

The Unfiltered newsletter had this to say:

Land Tax is socialist – get rid of it! What do you think about Land Tax? Michael de Percy makes it pretty clear that he is fed up with the Labor government and that the socialist tax should be scrapped before it does real harm to the concept of private property. He writes, ‘Land tax may be efficient, but land tax is rent. If you must keep paying for the land you own, then it is no longer freehold land.’

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Land tax is socialist and should be banned.

Land tax is socialist and should be banned | Michael de Percy
---------

Make no mistake, a land tax for homeowners is worse. It is effectively rent on what should otherwise be freehold land.https://t.co/2UMap1nRHz

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 24, 2024

It will take more than hot air to fix Labor’s renewables woes

The cooling towers at Three Mile Island where Microsoft plans to power its AI and data centres.

The wheels are falling off Mr Bowen’s energy policy as the Albanese government heads downhill like an out-of-control billy cart. Mr Bowen’s energy policy can be summed up as ‘not Mr Dutton’s policy’. That’s the extent of the substance to it, as each day brings more bad news for the 82 per cent renewables charade. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is turning to nuclear to meet future demand.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, 'It will take more than hot air to fix Labor’s renewables woes'.

It will take more than hot air to fix Labor’s renewables woes | Michael de Percy

Bowen’s energy policy can be summed up as ‘not Mr Dutton’s policy’.

That’s the extent of the substance, as each day brings bad news for the 82% renewables charade. https://t.co/Lew6bGQ03N

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) October 20, 2024

Predicting the ACT Election Outcome

Labor will form a minority government with the ACT Greens and probably an independent

It's always risky making predictions. Last night I made a prediction on Sky News Australia's News Night program at 5.00pm and it became a headline immediately. I was lucky this time!

My prediction: ACT could see a Labor minority government outcome after election #auspol #actelection https://t.co/dp1WfUrFvG

— Dr Michael de Percy (@FlaneurPolitiq) October 19, 2024