⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a five minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here, I’m back! And I promise to make up for my absence with something really good. So let’s crack on with it 🗞️.
Energy stuff is complicated. And, like, it's not made easy.
🗣️ Why did I say that?
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been reading the report produced by the Senate Committee investigating mis-and-disinformation in climate change and energy.
I finally finished it this week and decided to sit down, go back through my notes and talk to the camera about a few things I’ve learned.
Just some of the things uncovered by the inquiry included the fossil fuel industry:
Funding fake community groups (astroturfing).
Creating science education resources for schools.
Filling the information gaps and genuine questions the community has about renewables development with lies.
For my full breakdown check out today’s video:
Why is housing in Melbourne cheaper than Sydney? 🏡
What happened?
In 2024, Victoria began taxing property investors more. The change came alongside an increase in the minimum standards required of investment properties looking to be leased.
Not long after these changes, thousands of investors decided to sell up.
In 2026, Melbourne's house prices and rents are now lower than Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Experts say the changes meant Victoria had dis-incentised housing as a method of making money, helping first home buyers and renters.
Could we do this across the country?
How we got here: In 2021, the Victorian Government decided that landlords had to make homes liveable and introduced standards that implored landlords to:
- Install a fixed heater in the main living area
- Have gas and electrical safety checks once every two years
- Make sure properties don’t have any mould or damp
The standards also mean properties would have until 2027 to:
- Install ceiling insulation where none is present
- Replace end of life heating and hot water systems with efficient electric alternatives
- Install draught proofing on external doors, windows and wall vents
Then what happened? In January 2024, Victorian property investors were then hit with a new annual land tax, with bills starting at $500 to potentially thousands.
While this might be a drop in the bucket for property investors with multiple homes, it was a bigger hit for mum-and-dad investors.
Over 70 percent of the 2.3 million property investors in Australia own just one property in addition to their home.
It’s a service: Professor Alan Morris, from the University of Technology Sydney, told the National Account the taxation from the Victorian Government drove down the number of home loans for investors in the state.
Morris said Melbourne’s population decline after the pandemic also played a role in increasing the vacancy rate of the city.
How much? Cotality data shows Melbourne, despite being larger in population, has had its median home value surpassed by multiple capital cities across the country.
Sydney: $1,601,782
Melbourne: $982,876
Brisbane: $1,207,718
Adelaide: $998,933
Perth: $1,062,538
Hobart: $790,566
Canberra: $1,048,285
Darwin: $732,035
Rents: Professor Morris said investors are now able to charge less for rent as house prices drop or stabilise and mortgage repayments become lower.
In New South Wales, there are more property investors – and the market is still geared towards them. “Investors push up prices,” said Morris.
Money money money: Professor Morris also noted Sydney is a more affluent city than Melbourne.
“There's more disposable income… There are a lot of high income renters in Sydney. That also impacts the market. It's like it permeates downwards,” he said.
Image: AAP
Thanks for catching up with me, I’ll be back on Friday with more, but let know what you thought of today’s issue by just replying to this email 👋
Cheers, Archie