Cutting stamp duty for older Australians is unfair

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With less than five weeks to go until the South Australian election, the Opposition Liberal Party has announced a stamp duty concession to help older homeowners downsize. It is not a full exemption but a one‑off $15,000 discount on stamp duty for eligible buyers.

The concessions would be available to South Australians aged 55 and over. They would apply when they sell their current home and purchase a cheaper, smaller property valued at less than $1.2 million.

The Liberals argue the measure will:

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.