Search Results for: ken morrison

  • News

    Talk of ‘the end of offices’ not supported by data

    The end of the office is far from nigh, according to the Property Council, who recently released their latest Office Market Report. “While there is plenty of commentary about the end of the office, the data doesn’t suggest this, and there is a long way to go as business works its way through the economic and social impacts of COVID-19,”…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Build-to-rent incentives ‘a shot in the arm’

    The Property Council of Australia has spoken out in favour of the NSW Government’s new measures to help boost the growth of the ‘build-to-rent’ sector. “The incentives announced today will help to attract institutional investment into new housing, giving the one-third of Australian households who rent their home more choice, certainty and better amenity,” said the Property Council’s Chief Executive,…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    JobKeeper extension applauded as “right move”

    The Property Council and Master Builders Australia are among the many industries to applaud the government’s extension of the JobKeeper program. “Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister and Treasurer provides businesses and their employees with the certainty they need for the coming months as we continue to grapple with the public health and economic impact of COVID-19,” said Ken Morrison,…

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  • COMMERCIAL

    Environmental reform for building codes “sensible and long overdue”

    Reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act that aim to streamline regulatory legislation for both housing and commercial property projects have been welcomed by The Property Council of Australia as “sensible and long overdue.” “There has never been a more critical time to ensure that our regulatory regime is free of unnecessary process and strikes the right balance…

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  • COMMERCIAL

    Confidence within the property industry is on the rise

    The easing of COVID restrictions over the last few months has resulted in a surge of confidence in the property industry since April. The latest ANZ/Property Council survey took place between June 15 and July 1, surveying 955 industry folk. Not surprisingly, the states and territories with the biggest shift in sentiment were those least impacted by COVID-19: South Australia,…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Tasmania first state to accept HomeBuilder applications

    The Treasury has announced that, despite some initial hesitations, every Australian state and territory are now signatories to the HomeBuilder scheme. Tasmania is already accepting applications, becoming the first state to do so. ACT will provide information on how to apply next Monday, while QLD has promised information “shortly”. Other states are expected to follow suit. The $25,000 grant has…

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  • News

    Thodey report recommends land tax, not stamp duty

    NSW stamp duty should be replaced by land tax, according to a recommendation of the Thodey Report, which was released today. Instigated in 2019 by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and chaired by former Telstra Boss David Thodey, one of the draft report’s key recommendations is that broad-based land tax is more efficient and equitable than…

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  • News

    Call for ‘mega’ project fast-track to be applied to across the board

    Australia’s leading property advocate has called for the fast-tracking of approvals for nation-building infrastructure projects to be adopted across the board by all levels of government involved in planning and construction approvals. The Property Council of Australia welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment of additional funding to get new local infrastructure projects out of the ground and accelerate approvals for ‘mega’…

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  • News

    HomeBuilder stimulus to switch on sentiment and save jobs

    The Federal Government’s announcement of a new HomeBuilder scheme will be a relief to thousands of home builders and tradies around the country. Australians looking to build or renovate in the second half of the year will be able to apply for $25,000 from the federal government as part of a scheme aiming to keep the construction industry moving. The…

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  • News

    Safe Work Australia updates guidelines for return to work

    With many people beginning to return to work in big office buildings, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has released new guidelines on the ‘COVIDSafe’ use of lifts. The guideline was updated overnight to say: “there is no requirement to provide 4 square metres of space per person in lifts, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that…

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  • News

    Property industry can help kickstart economic recovery

    Australia’s leaders have taken decisive action in response to coronavirus which has protected Australians from the terrible health outcomes seen in other countries. But this has also taken a toll on our economy, the effects of which are still largely unknown. In response, The Property Council says the industry should play an important role in Australia’s economy recovery and ongoing…

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  • OPINION

    My staff don’t want to return to work – coming back after COVID-19

    As Australia commences its return to normality, the internet is already abuzz with questions about the return of employees to their workplaces. When will it happen? How will it happen? And, increasingly, can I refuse to return when my boss tells me it’s time? On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia’s ‘3 Step Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia’. As…

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  • OPINION

    Housing policies need change as COVID-19 widens renter-owner divide

    The renter-owner gap will widen Despite concerns about house prices plummeting, the spread of COVID-19 is exposing a widening gap in housing markets between those who own zero housing wealth (renters) and those with substantial housing wealth (owners). Australians with little to no housing wealth were already experiencing at least three key types of vulnerabilities before the pandemic in the…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Progress made on code of conduct for commercial tenancies

    The Property Council of Australia has noted today's direction from the National Cabinet for the development of an industry code of conduct for commercial tenancy. "We have been engaging closely with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments on these issues, and will continue to do so to provide the certainty that landlords, tenants and governments…

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  • News

    Property Council welcomes ‘business hibernation’ plan

    The Property Council has welcomed the commitment of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to develop a package of measures to help Australian businesses get through the current economic crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. “The Prime Minister’s proposal for a ‘business hibernation’ package recognises the critical importance of helping as many Australian businesses make it through this extremely challenging…

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  • News

    Kylie Walsh of DiJONES – A stronger industry, embracing change

    DiJONES’ general manager Kylie Walsh is no stranger to innovation, but in recent weeks she reflects the whole industry has been forced to innovate at speed. “As an industry, real estate has been very slow to change,” she notes. “But this event will force us to…

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  • News

    Stimulus supports property industry – but will it be enough?

    “HIA welcomes the Australian Government stimulus package, particularly the support provided for apprentices,” said HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon. “The residential building industry has contracted by around 20 per cent from its peak during the May 2018 quarter and most indicators showed an improvement in conditions in the second half of 2019. “Australia is emerging…

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  • News

    Stamp duty labelled ‘government addiction’ as industry calls for reform

    Calls for changes to stamp duty are starting to grow stronger after New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet put the federal government on notice to act on tax reforms. In a recently released report, an independent panel appointed by the NSW Treasurer looked at how NSW and the Commonwealth could work together to build a stronger economy.  One of the…

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  • News

    How will the bushfire crisis impact property prices?

    There is no escaping the effect the recent bushfire crisis will have on property prices, but an independent property research company claims the impact will depend on the state of the market in the suburb prior to the bushfires as well as how badly the areas were hit. RiskWise Property Research has identified three ‘severity’ categories with greatly varied impacts…

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  • News

    12 Sydney property market predictions for 2020

    1. Property owners will continue to sit on their handsListings will continue to be at relatively low levels as a significant proportion of property owners will wait and ‘time the market’ until they are certain prices have peaked again. For this reason, Sydney property buyers might be rewarded with more stock at the end of 2020. Once this happens, prices will…

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  • News

    Making every building count

    Governments urged to adopt practical plan for emissions reduction. A landmark new plan sets out a practical pathway for transforming Australian homes, workplaces and other buildings into low carbon, high-performance structures while cost-effectively reducing emissions. Every building counts: A practical plan for emissions reduction is a policy toolkit jointly developed by the Property Council of Australia…

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  • NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    National agreement reached on building reforms

    Both the Property Council of Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects have welcomed a national approach to building reforms after Commonwealth, State and Territory building ministers last week agreed to implement all 24 recommendations of the Shergold-Weir Building Confidence report. Shergold-Weir Building Confidence ReportDownload The report sets out 24 recommendations that look to cement the National Construction Code as…

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  • News

    APRA Lending guidelines and income tax cuts provide welcome confidence boost

    The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the softening of residential mortgage lending guidelines and the Government’s income tax cuts, noting the initiatives provide a welcome shot of confidence for the property sector at a critical time for the Australian economy. Responding to APRA’s decision last week to remove the 7 per cent interest rate buffer for residential mortgage lending,…

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  • News

    Insurance crisis threatens construction sector

    An impending insurance crisis risks bringing the construction sector to a halt unless Commonwealth, state and territory governments can work together to resolve the issue. The Property Council of Australia has called for an industry roundtable on resolving the insurance crisis, as many building and construction businesses face closure over the issue. They said it was essential for governments to…

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  • News

    International House Sydney: Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year

    Lendlease has claimed the nation’s top property prize, receiving the Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year award for their innovative timber marvel, International House Sydney. Lendlease was presented with the accolade at the Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards in Sydney on Friday. “International House is not only a construction industry ‘game…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Liberal Party announces leg up for First Home Buyers

    First home buyers are set for a significant leg up with a new initiative from the Morrison Government to slash the size of a home loan deposit, announced last night. Recognising that it can take nine to 10 years for an average household to save a deposit the Liberal plan is to help Australians realise the goal of buying their…

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  • News

    Budget 2019 focused on a strong economy

    Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down the Federal Budget last night. With a Federal Election on the horizon, the centrepiece of the budget was a cash rebate pitch to middle income earners and no changes to taxation legislation this side of an election. It’s the second year in the row there was no mention of…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Banking Royal Commission final report demands crackdowns and compensation

    The long-awaited final report from the banking Royal Commission has been handed down. The report, received by the Morrison Government on Friday 1 February and released publicly Monday 4 February, has suggested sweeping changes to the industry and 76 actionable recommendations. Commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s final 530-page report and 76 recommendations have been welcomed by the Federal Government and Labor, who…

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  • FRANCHISE NEWS

    Harcourts Group Australia names new leader for Victoria state operations

    Harcourts Group Australia CEO Marcus Williams has announced the appointment of Tony Morrison to the role of Harcourts Victoria CEO effective 10 December 2018. Mr Morrison currently serves as the CEO of the Harcourts Tasmania state office, a role he has held since 2004, and will become CEO of both state corporate teams. “Tony has driven the growth of the…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    South Australia’s real estate elite battle it out at Awards for Excellence in Real Estate

    On Saturday night, South Australia’s real estate elite battled it out at the 2018 News Corp Australia realestate.com.au Awards for Excellence in Real Estate. The 2018 Awards celebrated all things Cuban with a Stars of Havana theme. The Adelaide Convention Centre took us all back to the land of salsa, cigars and Desi Arnaz Jr. This year the REISA Awards…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    City planning and management needs to step up to meet the growing population: Property Council of Australia

    While Australia’s cities are growing fast – three quarters of our population growth is occurring in just our four largest cities – so are many other international cities and we need to learn lessons of how to grow cities successfully. “Population growth, including immigration, has been an essential part of the Australian story and has delivered real economic and social…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Everything you need to know about changes coming into place from July 1

    Federal GST changes for property After July 1 2018 buyers of new residential houses, apartments and land blocks will be responsible for making sure the GST on their purchase is paid to the ATO as part of the settlement process. This GST will not be an additional cost to buyers, it’s already part of any contracted purchase, but prior to…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWSelite agent news room

    The great build-to-rent debate

    The argument has been raging in the property industry for years: why can’t the build-to-rent model of housing, popular in both the UK and the US, work in Australia? It’s a complex issue, and your answer will depend which side of the fence you’re on. The build-to-rent model, also known as the ‘multi-family’ model, would see developers or investors hold…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Harcourts Australia names 2018 Hall of Fame inductees

    During a gala black-tie evening, Harcourts International inducted Lisa and Ben Bernacki of Harcourts Alliance (WA) into the Harcourts Hall of Fame. Mr and Mrs Bernacki join a list of select real estate professionals recognised with the highest accolade in the Harcourts network. “To be awarded a place in the Hall of Fame amongst the very people that inspire us…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWSelite agent news room

    Budget needs to deliver a plan for Australia’s growing cities, says Property Council

    Amid the debate about how Australia manages its growing population, tomorrow’s Federal Budget is a critical opportunity for the Turnbull Government to articulate its’ plan to shape Australia’s cities for a successful future. ‘The Government’s enthusiasm for ‘congestion-busting infrastructure’ is welcome, and no doubt we’ll see more of these projects supported in the last Budget before the next election,’ said…

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