How bad policy created a housing crisis

The capital gains tax concession and negative gearing have worked together to make housing less affordable and exacerbate inequality.

Tax doesn’t just affect markets, it shapes society. On housing, excessive tax concessions have driven up prices, concentrated wealth and locked many of the market. On this special episode, Maiy Azize from Everybody’s Home, Josie Lee from Oxfam Australia, and housing advocate Jordan van den Lamb join Amy Remeikis to discuss how bad policy created a housing crisis.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit at Parliament House in Canberra.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.

Subscribe now for updates from the Australia Institute.

Guest: Maiy Azize, National Spokesperson, Everybody’s Home

Guest: Josie Lee, Policy and Advocacy Lead, Oxfam Australia

Guest: Jordan van den Lamb, Housing Advocate // @purplepingers

Host: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Show notes:

One way to improve the “dumpster fire of dumb stuff” which is Australia’s housing policy by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

Macro reforms for housing affordability by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

Migration is not out of control and the figures show it is not to blame for the housing crisis by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

Three ways Australia can tax wealth better by Matt Grudnoff and Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (August 2025)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected].

Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.