Key Takeaways
- Budget Advocacy: Sustained pressure helped secure changes to the superannuation performance test and $604 million for Jewish community security.
- Startup Tax Relief: Following strong feedback from business founders, the government has moved to consider tweaking Capital Gains Tax (CGT) laws for startups.
- Housing Petition: Boele has launched a community petition calling for a strict, consistent national definition of "affordable housing".
From securing superannuation test fixes to advocating for startup tax tweaks, independent representation delivers direct results in Canberra.
June arrives and with it – finally – a chance to catch breath after a May dominated by the Federal Budget.
After Budget night on 12 May, my team and I went line by line through every announcement, cross-checked the figures, and met with Ministers. I shared my honest assessment at a sold-out Budget Recap event in Lindfield on 21 May – the room was full of sharp questions and I loved every minute of it.
There’s a lot to welcome. After sustained advocacy – including direct meetings with Ministers – the Government has committed to fixing the superannuation performance test, so our $4.5 trillion super sector can finally put capital to work in housing and energy rather than being penalised for doing so.
The $604 million for community safety and security for our Jewish community is also significant and long overdue. Bradfield is home to one of Australia’s largest Jewish communities – families, schools, synagogues, organisations that enrich our part of the world.
On tax reform, I’ve been more measured. The changes to negative gearing, capital gains and trust arrangements are a serious attempt to address the housing crisis – but seriousness of intent isn’t the same as quality of design.
What concerns me most is founders. Someone who spends a decade building a company, employing Australians, competing internationally – that person is not the same as a passive property investor. A business sale is the crystallisation of risk taken and reward deferred.
The Budget doesn’t recognise that distinction – so I said so publicly, launched a community survey, and kept pushing.
The Government has since moved to consider tweaks to CGT for start-ups – that’s what listening to our community, taking it to Canberra, and keeping the pressure on can achieve.
Watch this space.
See you out there.