Victorian first-home buyer stamp duty concession scheme fails thousands
Thousands of Victorian first-home buyers are being slugged with massive tax bills as the state's primary support program for them falls short.
It comes as analysis shows Victorian state opposition plans to raise the cap on the first-home buyer stamp duty concession program to $1m would add 204 suburbs to the list where market entrants don't have to pay stamp duty.
Currently there are fewer than 20 where the median house price falls within the necessary parameters.
'Thrilled': one seller, three separate first-home buyers
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were 36,756 new first-home buyer loans issued in Victoria in the 2023-2024 financial year.
The ABS stats show a further 1893 home loans were issued to first-home buyers purchasing an investment property in that same year.
However, State Revenue Office data shows that just 32,849 payments were made under the first-home buyer concession scheme that waives stamp duty for purchases for up to $600,000 and provides a discount from there to $750,000.
For a $750,001 home purchase stamp duty totals at $40,070, for a $1m purchase it reaches $55,000.
Yesterday the Victorian opposition announced it would raise the cap to $1m in a move that would bring the state closer to the margins being offered in Queensland and NSW, as well as reflecting a federal government decision to raise the cap on their incoming Help To Buy co-buying scheme.
Their modelling suggests it would help 17,000 people buy a home within a year, however would not be implemented until after at least the next state election in November, 2026 — as the party would have to first win office before it could be rolled out.
PropTrack median house sale data shows there are currently 19 suburbs that fit beneath the $600,000 cap, but 204 would be applicable under the opposition's revision.
Separate PropTrack sales data show that in the past week there were at least 263 homes sold in the past week would have qualified for the state's scheme on price, at the opposition's revised threshold 868 home sales in the past seven days would have.
It would return former first-home buyer hubs to the list of areas available to them without having to pay a hefty tax bill, including Sunshine, Watsonia, Reservoir and Greenvale where the typical home today costs more than $750,000 and is beyond any form of stamp duty support.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria interim chief executive Jacob Caine said with home values widely tipped to rise in the coming year, the state government should make the change immediately rather than waiting for the Liberal party to take it to an election.
'There's only one reason the government wouldn't make these changes today and that's because they want and need the revenue they are taking from first-home buyers for these stamp duty payments,' Mr Caine said.
With research regularly showing stamp duty was an inefficient tax, he said it should not be allowed to continue stopping first-home buyers from purchasing the right home for them near where they work and where their family lives.
He added that with the changes enough to add 185 suburbs to the list covered for stamp duty waivers, it would also likely slow any home price growth caused by the tax tweak.
Mortgage Choice loan broker David Thurmond said the state's program needed to be reviewed, as it hadn't been updated since 2017 and there would 'definitely' be thousands buying homes outside of the current caps.
'And what has happened since? A tremendous increase to values,' Mr Thurmond said.
'It is forcing people to make compromises on the suburbs they are living in and it's meaning they have to buy a second home later on, as they grow out of their first.
'There are definitely people who could go to $800,000 if the stamp duty was removed.'
The broker said while it was likely home values would rise in response to first-home buyers effectively getting a boost to their budgets, the addition of so many more suburbs to the potential buying pool would likely diffuse the impact — and the support was needed right now.
By contrast, he said that none of his clients would benefit from the Allan government's stamp duty concessions for off-the-plan purchases for up to $1m.
To generate more housing, Mr Thurmond said additional targeted grants at new homes would also be necessary.
SUBURBS WITH HOUSES UP TO $1M
Melton - $475,000
Melton South - $522,000
Kurunjang - $538,000
Melton West - $540,000
Brookfield - $550,000
Dallas - $560,000
Coolaroo - $560,000
Weir Views - $570,000
Harkness - $572,000
Wyndham Vale - $575,000
Thornhill Park - $580,500
Broadmeadows - $585,000
Laverton - $590,000
East Warburton - $590,000
Longwarry - $595,000
Millgrove - $597,500
Bacchus Marsh - $599,500
Doveton - $600,000
Meadow Heights - $600,000
Frankston North - $605,000
Werribee - $606,000
Jacana - $608,500
Maddingley - $610,000
Albanvale - $612,000
Kings Park - $618,000
Wallan - $620,000
Hoppers Crossing - $620,000
Campbellfield - $621,000
Cobblebank - $625,000
Strathtulloh - $625,000
Rockbank - $625,000
Mambourin - $626,500
Diggers Rest - $635,000
Eumemmerring - $635,000
Kalkallo - $640,000
Manor Lakes - $640,000
Badger Creek - $640,000
Deanside - $642,000
Mount Cottrell - $642,000
Darley - $649,500
Donnybrook - $650,000
Tarneit - $650,000
Craigieburn - $650,000
Pakenham - $652,000
Delahey - $652,500
Werribee South - $652,500
Roxburgh Park - $653,000
Truganina - $655,000
Beveridge - $656,500
Cranbourne - $658,500
Westmeadows - $660,000
Warburton - $660,000
St Albans - $662,500
Epping - $663,000
Hampton Park - $665,000
Junction Village - $665,000
Deer Park - $669,000
Mickleham - $669,900
Koo Wee Rup - $670,000
Hastings - $670,000
Sunbury - $675,000
Ardeer - $676,300
Wollert - $680,000
Bonnie Brook - $680,000
Cranbourne West - $683,000
Sunshine West - $685,000
Woori Yallock - $694,000
Clyde - $695,000
Fraser Rise - $697,500
Mernda - $700,000
Kealba - $700,000
Lalor - $701,000
Sydenham - $701,000
Capel Sound - $705,000
Yarra Junction - $707,500
Cranbourne East - $710,000
Lang Lang - $710,000
Carrum Downs - $711,000
Whittlesea - $715,000
Altona Meadows - $716,000
Cranbourne North - $717,000
Lancefield - $717,500
Officer - $720,000
Thomastown - $720,000
Blind Bight - $722,500
Aintree - $723,750
Clyde North - $725,000
Dandenong - $725,000
Crib Point - $727,500
Hallam - $728,000
Seville East - $729,500
South Morang - $730,000
Baxter - $730,000
Bunyip - $732,500
Gladstone Park - $733,000
Burnside Heights - $735,000
Frankston - $735,000
Sunshine North - $736,000
Braybrook - $740,000
Albion - $740,000
Launching Place - $742,500
Caroline Springs - $743,500
Garfield - $745,000
Tullamarine - $745,000
Narre Warren - $748,750
Point Cook - $750,000
Eynesbury - $750,000
Nar Nar Goon North - $750,000
Seabrook - $752,500
Doreen - $760,000
Dandenong North - $760,000
Rosebud - $760,000
Keilor Downs - $765,000
Fawkner - $766,500
Noble Park - $770,000
Noble Park North - $777,500
Brooklyn - $780,000
Sunshine - $782,500
Lynbrook - $783,000
Skye - $787,000
Burnside - $788,000
Williams Landing - $792,000
Kilsyth - $795,000
Kingsbury - $797,500
Mill Park - $798,000
Heidelberg West - $800,000
Romsey - $800,000
New Gisborne - $800,000
Keilor Park - $800,000
Hillside - $801,000
Endeavour Hills - $805,000
Mooroolbark - $812,000
Glenroy - $815,000
Narre Warren South - $815,000
Attwood - $815,000
Officer South - $820,000
Lilydale - $820,000
Seaford - $820,000
Healesville - $820,000
Maidstone - $821,000
Cranbourne South - $821,500
Coldstream - $822,500
Selby - $824,750
Silvan - $825,000
Belgrave - $827,500
Springvale - $830,000
Kalorama - $835,000
Mount Evelyn - $838,000
Springvale South - $838,000
Monbulk - $838,000
Tyabb - $840,000
Hadfield - $850,000
Seville - $850,000
Bundoora - $850,000
Chirnside Park - $850,000
Boronia - $850,000
Tootgarook - $850,500
Langwarrin - $855,000
Heathcote Junction - $855,000
Greenvale - $857,500
Tecoma - $860,000
Somerville - $863,750
Taylors Hill - $865,000
Mount Dandenong - $865,000
Upper Ferntree Gully - $866,500
Cairnlea - $870,000
Cockatoo - $870,000
Ferntree Gully - $870,000
The Basin - $873,000
Upwey - $875,000
Kallista - $875,500
Heidelberg Heights - $875,750
Wesburn - $876,250
Bayswater - $879,000
Berwick - $880,000
Cannons Creek - $887,500
Croydon - $888,000
Carrum - $888,500
Reservoir - $890,000
Botanic Ridge - $895,000
Bayswater North - $897,500
Croydon South - $897,500
Avonsleigh - $900,000
Gowanbrae - $905,000
Watsonia North - $905,000
Williamstown North - $905,000
Keysborough - $910,000
West Footscray - $915,000
Airport West - $917,500
Montrose - $920,000
Altona North - $925,000
Wandong - $925,000
Knoxfield - $930,444
Lyndhurst - $931,500
Wattle Glen - $935,000
Sassafras - $935,000
Yarra Glen - $937,500
Clayton South - $938,500
Kinglake West - $938,500
Chelsea Heights - $940,000
Watsonia - $940,500
Kinglake - $945,000
Taylors Lakes - $945,000
Pearcedale - $947,500
Dromana - $949,000
Footscray - $950,000
Chelsea - $950,000
Riddells Creek - $950,000
Rye - $950,000
Wandin North - $955,000
Scoresby - $961,000
Coburg North - $969,250
Keilor Lodge - $970,000
Emerald - $973,000
Gisborne - $980,000
Avondale Heights - $980,000
Croydon North - $987,000
Hurstbridge - $990,000
Ringwood East - $991,000
Beaconsfield - $1,000,000
Gembrook - $1,000,000
Nyora - $1,000,000
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Conor Duffy: In a statement, a Services Australia spokesperson said it fully accepted the recommendations and would be working to implement them between December 2025 and June 2026. Financial abuse and all forms of family and domestic violence are serious and damaging issues affecting many of our customers, the spokesperson said. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, said the government recognised child support was being used to exploit and traumatise women and where acting. Isabella Higgins: Conor Duffy reporting. More than 80 years after he died, an Indigenous family have discovered the secret war history of one of their relatives. For decades, the story of service of Private Ngakyunkwokka was lost due to a spelling error. Now the Australian War Memorial is fixing that, as James Vyver reports. James Vyver: In Wik country on the western side of Queensland's Cape York, the old Aurukun Mission Cemetery is filled with white wooden crosses. Among them, a gleaming white headstone stands out, the war grave of an Aboriginal World War II soldier, whose service and story has only recently been discovered by his great-niece, Ariana Yunkaporta. Ariana Yunkaporta: We didn't know our great-great uncle was serving in the World War II. We were like, wow, we had an ancestors, you know, who served before and I was like really happy. I was like, wow, I don't know any white Australian served in the World War. James Vyver: The soldier, Private Ngakyunkwokka, died in 1945 while on active duty for the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion. Incorrect mission and army records dating back over the last century led to the veteran being buried with the wrong name, Private Ngarkwokka. That error, carved in gold lettering, is still on the headstone today. Ariana Yunkaporta: Seeing that grave for the first time, it was emotional and then I started like, had tears coming down. James Vyver: It meant Ariana Yunkaporta and her family had no idea their ancestor was with them in Aurukun. The mystery of how the headstone bears the wrong name has now been solved after 80 years, thanks to a fellow digger and some luck. Tim White: The last thing I expected to find in a cemetery in a remote Aboriginal community was a war grave. James Vyver: In 2022, Aurukun local and army veteran Dr Tim White recognised the significance of the headstone, but not the Ngarkwokka name. Tim White: My inquiry started that day. I've got to find out who this is and what the story is. If one of our Afghanistan or Vietnam veterans were buried under the wrong name, there'd be national outcry about it. James Vyver: The incorrect records had also led to the soldier being listed with the wrong name on the roll of honour at the Australian War Memorial, twice. Well, his name has been changed three times. Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson. Matt Anderson: We're determined now with the help of family, with the help of community that we've got it right. That's the right answer, to keep on striving for perfection. This is a roll of honour. This is the nation's debt recorded in bronze and if we can get it right, that's what we're determined to do and I'm just so pleased we've been able to do that. James Vyver: A supplementary bronze panel now correctly reads Ngakyunkwokka C.B. The previous two incorrect names remain on the roll of honour. Army Reservists themselves, Ariana Yunkaporta and her brother Irwin, travelled to Canberra last week for a last post ceremony at the War Memorial. A service dedicated to a fellow soldier and their new-found uncle, finally recognised with his true name. Ariana Yunkaporta: He's not just a role model for us, he's a role model to Aurukun as well, to the whole community. James Vyver: The headstone on Private Ngakyunkwokka's grave will be replaced in the coming months. Isabella Higgins: James Vyver reporting there. And that's AM for today. Thanks for your company. I'm Isabella Higgins. Sam Hawley: Hi, it's Sam Hawley here, host of the ABC News Daily podcast. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Elon Musk has spent a lot of time inside the Oval Office. Now the world's richest man has been farewelled from his role in the Trump administration. Today, staff writer at The Atlantic, Ashley Parker, on Elon's exit and whether that's really the end of his role in politics. Look for the ABC News Daily podcast on the ABC Listen app.
