What changed
Policy updates
Short, source-cited summaries of changes that affect buyers, investors and migrants — from federal and state agencies.
- VICEffective 1 Jan 2024
VIC: Foreign purchaser surcharge stays at 8%
Victoria's foreign purchaser additional duty remains 8% on residential acquisitions, with the absentee owner land tax surcharge at 4%.
Read update - QLDEffective 1 June 2024
QLD: $30,000 First Home Owner Grant extended
Queensland's temporarily increased First Home Owner Grant of $30,000 (up from $15,000) for new builds was extended through to 30 June 2025.
Read update - NSWEffective 1 July 2023
NSW: First-home stamp duty exemption raised to $800k
NSW lifted the full first-home buyer stamp duty exemption to homes up to $800,000 and concessional rates up to $1,000,000.
Read update - AUEffective 1 Apr 2025
FIRB: Two-year ban on foreign buyers of established homes
From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, foreign persons (including most temporary residents) cannot buy established dwellings in Australia, with limited exceptions.
Read update - AUEffective 1 Jan 2025
ATO: Foreign resident CGT withholding rises to 15%
From 1 January 2025, the foreign resident capital gains withholding rate increased from 12.5% to 15%, and the $750,000 threshold was removed — applies to all property sales.
Read update