Family First links taxes and planning rules to housing and business

Victoria families are facing higher housing and business costs, according to a Family First statement released on 28 June 2026. Jane Foreman argued the Allan government controls stamp duty, payroll tax, planning rules and housing infrastructure spending, yet has not used those powers to help young families.

Australia’s total fertility rate fell to 1.50 births per woman in 2023. That was the lowest level on record and well below the 2.1 replacement rate. Victoria mirrors the national trend, Family First said in the release.

Foreman said, “The Allan government cannot blame Canberra for stamp duty. It cannot blame Canberra for planning rules that lock young families out of affordable land. It cannot blame Canberra for payroll tax settings that drive up costs for family businesses. These are Victorian levers. The question is why this government refuses to pull them in favour of families.”

Tax and housing changes proposed

On stamp duty, Family First wants exemptions or concessions for families buying a principal place of residence. The briefing said Victoria’s stamp duty is among the highest in Australia and directly lifts the cost of a family home.

On payroll tax, the party wants to raise the threshold and create a family business concession. According to the briefing, medium-sized family businesses can become liable when they hire one or two extra employees, making expansion harder.

On planning, Family First wants to unlock land supply, cut state-imposed building levies and speed up approvals. The briefing named restrictive zoning, excessive developer levies and slow approval processes as major drivers of unaffordable housing in Victoria.

Family First also proposed a broader review of state taxes and levies through a family impact lens. That review would cover stamp duty, payroll tax and developer charges, and ask whether each measure makes it harder for a Victorian family to own a home, run a business or raise children.

Foreman said, “The state government is not powerless here, it is choosing not to act. Family First will use every lever available at the state level to make Victoria a place where families can afford to form, grow, and thrive.”

No timeline for the reforms appeared in the 28 June 2026 statement. However, the release made clear that Family First sees state policy, not Canberra, as the main route to lower housing costs and reduce pressure on family businesses in Victoria.

Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:45 am