The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

National Australia Bank (NAB) has brought forward the timing of the first RBA cash rate cut by three months.

NAB is now expecting a cut in February, in line with ANZ and Westpac, having initially thought a cut wouldn't come until May.

Commonwealth Bank, the nation's largest lender, still thinks the first cut will come in December.

NAB changed its call following the August monthly inflation figures that were released at the end of September, showing it had dropped to 2.7 per cent.

"The risk has been skewed to a first cut earlier in 2025, and today’s change acknowledges the balance of risks has likely shifted sufficiently for the RBA to feel comfortable cutting a little sooner than we earlier expected," NAB noted in its latest update.

They added that the cadence of the cuts may be faster than its central profile.

"Domestic inflation pressures are cooling, but only gradually, and we continue to expect the conditions for a cut will not be in place this year.

NAB believes the easing cycle will end at 3.1 per cent by early 2026, which is five cuts from the current 4.35 per cent cash rate.&nbsp;

CBA also thinks 3.1 per cent will mark the end of the cutting cycle, while Westpac is forecasting 3.35 per cent, and ANZ is the most pessimistic at 3.6 per cent, which would be just three interest rate cuts.

<h2>What would a rate cut in February look like for borrowers?</h2>

According to&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.IVvjJ-2BPT0A8C3VxtqKc6e3bj5hBuw27WFEYqovsYs7kPsgFulYrdOzeP8gI7CybJOya3_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20hPXdLlPP9yD7DvFFDBM5yrTqxvcCiMfAsW1onD-2FcriL628eYdhNQE7bwzYrxcOYnmaYfRhGl-2FEHQ6eK2uQcLxs6Cbu6Dx0bYvpi5A6enmxMWU5TkcRYrP6Z8GbXZYtc5qSoKu6eWFBQR9K7fsjXwHMmby3D3X6Yx-2BxcDcdRruTG&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727774368149000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2vK2ujS77CHs9VRvSSXzLC" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IVvjJ-2BPT0A8C3VxtqKc6e3bj5hBuw27WFEYqovsYs7kPsgFulYrdOzeP8gI7CybJOya3_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20hPXdLlPP9yD7DvFFDBM5yrTqxvcCiMfAsW1onD-2FcriL628eYdhNQE7bwzYrxcOYnmaYfRhGl-2FEHQ6eK2uQcLxs6Cbu6Dx0bYvpi5A6enmxMWU5TkcRYrP6Z8GbXZYtc5qSoKu6eWFBQR9K7fsjXwHMmby3D3X6Yx-2BxcDcdRruTG" target="_blank">Canstar</a>, if there is a cut in February, a borrower with a $600,000 loan today and 25 years remaining would see their monthly repayments drop by $92.&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="3">
			Impact of 0.25% pt cut in February 2025
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Current loan size
			</td>
			<td>
			Drop in monthly repayment
			</td>
			<td>
			New monthly repayment
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$600,000
			</td>
			<td>
			-$92
			</td>
			<td>
			$3,907
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$750,000
			</td>
			<td>
			-$114
			</td>
			<td>
			$4,884
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$1M
			</td>
			<td>
			-$153
			</td>
			<td>
			$6,512
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="3">
			Source:&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.xWMOP9hChsvn-2BC9O-2FebBihXIZ4cEzbiuENdxm-2Bx3-2FYEEgYMhZlKWNj5Zzy1YZ56RuASD_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20v2akwr6-2BqLyRrlEgkJ4J-2BCCyY0x189xEHZA4Ylf8c7ChBqNIkhmftZzoFuZKFn43pw3oJVg2o1gumrpdA-2B7MB-2FBtmL2rFCI-2FXORATQHySCLVOMg7Vywv-2BqnnQUAtDz6XkvpwxdHFXh70VwKazzhJsICilEYOvP4ju0sIfi5g6TL&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727774368149000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qVnp6oqATgqDUi2Frm22q" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.xWMOP9hChsvn-2BC9O-2FebBihXIZ4cEzbiuENdxm-2Bx3-2FYEEgYMhZlKWNj5Zzy1YZ56RuASD_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20v2akwr6-2BqLyRrlEgkJ4J-2BCCyY0x189xEHZA4Ylf8c7ChBqNIkhmftZzoFuZKFn43pw3oJVg2o1gumrpdA-2B7MB-2FBtmL2rFCI-2FXORATQHySCLVOMg7Vywv-2BqnnQUAtDz6XkvpwxdHFXh70VwKazzhJsICilEYOvP4ju0sIfi5g6TL" target="_blank">www.canstar.com.au</a>. Starting rate is the RBA existing average owner-occupier variable rate of 6.36%. Assumes banks pass the cash rate cut on in full the month after the meeting.
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Canstar Data Insights Director, Sally Tindall, says if core inflation continues to track in the right direction, or unemployment starts to accelerate significantly, we could well see a cash rate cut as early as February of next year.

“All four big banks now believe the RBA will be ready to cut the cash rate in just over four months’ time, if not before, in the case of CBA.

“However, the outlook for both inflation and unemployment is still highly uncertain. A couple of wobbly sets of inflation data could see the RBA holding for longer, particularly if unemployment remains relatively steady."

&nbsp;

Commonwealth Bank, the nation's largest lender, still thinks the first cut will come in December.

NAB bring forward first RBA cut to February 2025

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An independent depreciation assessment of the four apartments up for auction next week has identified significant potential deductions for The Block’s buyers.
BMT Tax Depreciation has undertaken a depreciation assessment on each of the <a href="/news">Albert Park</a> apartments completed on this season of The Block and found that each offers major deduction opportunities, with potential first year deductions of about $50,000.
According to BMT Tax Depreciation managing director Bradley Beer, the renovated properties could be underlying goldmines for buyers. 
"An investor purchaser could claim a minimum of $46,281 and a maximum of $53,995 as an average first year depreciation deduction for one of the four properties," said Beer.
Beer says that despite legislation allowing all owners of income producing property to claim depreciation deductions for the wear and tear of their property and its contained assets, 80% of property investors fail to take full advantage of their depreciation deduction entitlements.
"Investors who don't claim depreciation are missing out on thousands of dollars in their pockets," said Beer.
BMT Tax Depreciation also prepared depreciation reports for the 2012 and 2013 Block properties.
The four apartments on O’Grady Street in Albert Park will be auctioned on Tuesday April 8, with the results airing on Channel 9 on Wednesday April 9.
 
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Hidden depreciation opportunity for The Block: Fans v Faves properties

<html><body>
While there has been talk around when interest rates will rise again, it appears that, for now at least, low interest rates might just be the new normal for investors.
After the Reserve Bank kept the interest rate on hold on Tuesday, surprising no one, 1300HomeLoan’s managing director John Kolenda has suggested that, despite continual suggestions of where the future rate may be heading, we’re likely to stick with lows for the foreseeable future. This, he noted, would make low rates the “new normal”.
“Prior to the global financial crisis the norm for the RBA's official rate was around the 5% mark,” he said.
“The historical rates over the last 30 years have been much higher than for the previous few years. Consumer confidence is playing a bigger role in determining rate movements.”
Potential increases over the next six to 12 months will still be low compared to historical rates, he noted.
“Based on the sensitivity of consumers to rate rises, we are likely to see medium term rates at historical lows and smaller variances in movement,” he said.
He claimed that anyone trying to predict a rise is “a brave person” until there’s more positive data broadly, rather than just rising house prices that the Reserve Bank has expressed concerns about.
 “In the current economic climate, the RBA has no choice but to keep rates on hold and likely to tread carefully if they raise sometime later this year,” he said, pointing to weak retail results, a slowdown in the resources sector and unemployment growth as counter balances to a strong housing market.
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Low interest rates may be “new normal”: John Kolenda

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Modern governments believe that during budget framing, it is politically savvy to parade the pain. We saw it with Labor and the Coalition is doing the same.
There are scary scenarios of what would happen without remediation, with warnings about problem areas. Some surprises will be held for the night, but other measures will be strategically “leaked” beforehand.
Tony Abbott, in Perth campaigning for the West Australian Senate election, let it be known he was chairing Wednesday’s meeting of cabinet’s expenditure review committee.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen declared it was the first time in Australian history a PM had chaired the ERC, claiming it showed dysfunction at the highest level.
This was nonsense. The government could quickly counter that Bob Hawke, John Howard and Kevin Rudd had also done so.
But it was surprising Abbott gave such a high profile to this “razor gang” meeting.
The ERC is all about nasties and, after all, Labor is making the prospect of deep budget cuts a centrepiece of its WA Senate campaigning. Abbott seemed to be providing ammunition. On the other hand, he could take the view Labor had the bullets anyway so he might as well play the longer game.
Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson publicly chimed into the pre- budget debate with a speech reinforcing the government’s lines about spending growth in the big areas.
But Parkinson also sent a public message to the government for later about what it should do on taxation.
With Hockey shining attention on health and pension costs, Parkinson documented the escalation.
Total Commonwealth spending on health is set to rise from $64.7 billion in nominal terms in 2013-14 to $74.6 billion in 2016-17, and to $116 billion in 2023-24.
The Commonwealth’s three main pension payments - for the aged, those on disability support and carers – will grow at an annual 6% in nominal terms over the forward estimates, adding $13 billion to annual payments by 2016-17, and another $39 billion by 2023-24. “Of this nearly $52 billion in additional payments in 2023-24, compared to 2013-14, over half is a result of indexation with the remainder due to increases in the number of recipients.”
That seems a fair hint that both drivers are being looked at. It should be remembered that successive governments have been trying to curtail the numbers on the disability pension but it has seemed a losing battle. It’s never as easy as it looks in theory.
Parkinson then turned to the tax side. His argument, aimed well beyond this budget and directed squarely at the political masters he will leave in December, is crystal clear. Australia needs a tax system it relies more on indirect tax, less on direct tax. The king of indirect taxes is, of course, the GST.
Parkinson pointed to one rather surprising fact, given the tax debates we’ve been through over many years. “Despite reforms that broaden the tax base (such as the GST), and decisions that have lowered corporate and personal tax rates across the decades, the share of direct and indirect taxes (as well as Australia’s reliance on income taxes) has changed little since the 1950s.”
Australia had relatively high reliance on direct taxes as a proportion of revenue raised compared with other OECD countries, he noted, before observing that: “Research consistently says that reduced reliance on income taxes and increased reliance on other, more efficient sources of revenue, including indirect taxes, can support higher growth and higher living standards by increasing workforce participation and lifting productivity.”
The problem is that “without conscious change, Australia’s tax mix will move in the opposite direction as personal income tax increases through fiscal drag”.
“We will move even further in this direction if, as we anticipate, the relative share of total indirect taxes (including GST) continues its long-term decline. Contributing to this decline is the non-indexation of fuel excise (unlike other excise rates) and a rising proportion of consumption outside the GST net, for example, in increased health expenditure.”
Parkinson warned that “continued increases in the personal income tax burden will hit lower and middle income earners with higher marginal and average tax rates. This will have adverse labour force participation impacts, while sharpening incentives for tax minimisation by higher income earners”.
The globalised economy meant Australia would be under pressure to cut the company tax rate.
“Given the pressure to return fiscal drag and to reduce the burden of corporate income tax, it will be a challenge to maintain the current levels of revenue over the medium term, let alone the increases required to achieve the budget projections.”
In the past, Parkinson said, tax reform had largely been pursued through broadening tax bases as an offset for lowering tax rates.
“However, a key challenge for the upcoming White Paper on Taxation will be to consider the mix of taxes, including whether there is a role for a greater contribution from indirect taxes.”
The opportunity were there to plot a path to a better tax system and the dangers clear if it was not done.
“If we do not start making these changes and simply keep drifting along we will be increasingly vulnerable to the next global crisis and will also lose out on the opportunities presented by the rising Asian middle class. The exceptionalism of this ‘lucky country’ will become just a distant, ironic memory and our children may really end up ‘doing it tough’”.
So there you have it. Parkinson, axed by the government (though extended until year’s end) won’t be around for the battles after the white paper, which has a long time table.
But he has signposted another lot of unpalatable truths. In terms of painful decisions ahead, this budget is only the start of it for the Abbott government, which hates the idea of tax increases, fears the politics of a robust debate about needing a higher, broader GST and has promised to take any major tax changes to the election.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/25161/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Michelle Grattan is professorial fellow at the <a href="https://www.canberra.edu.au/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">University of Canberra</a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Treasury boss hints at the need for a broader GST

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The latest home loan approval figures have found that variable rates have soared 73.92% from the month before, according to Mortgage Choice.
Variable rates accounted for 76.06% of home loans written in March, explained spokesperson for Mortgage Choice Jessica Darnbrough, who said this was unsurprising given the recent period of interest rate stability.
Darnbrough pointed to <a href="/expert-insights/finance/dwelling-prices-have-increased-significantly-rba-governor-glenn-stevens">the RBA’s comments of a prolonged period of interest rate stability</a> at their April board meeting yesterday, where they <a href="/expert-insights/finance/reserve-bank-holds-interest-rates-but-property-prices-make-an-increase-likely">kept the rate on hold</a>.
“With the Reserve Bank indicating that rates could stay on hold for the foreseeable future, borrowers are understandably, becoming increasingly comfortable taking out a variable rate mortgage,” she said.
“Moving forward, we expect demand for this type of product will continue to grow.”
The most popular of the variable rate products available are the ongoing discount rates, accounting for 43.71% of loans written through March.
Victoria saw the most borrowers keen for this type of home loan, at 81.25% of mortgages written. Meanwhile, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales saw 78.47%, 77.52%, 75.05% and 73.18% of this type of loan written respectively.
“Regardless of what type of product you opt for, you can guarantee the mortgage will have a very sharp interest rate. Australia’s lenders are competing for business at the moment through aggressive borrower incentives and home loan pricing,” Darnbrough said.
To read more about interest rates, see Property Observer's most recent articles on the topic here.
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Fixed rates no longer favoured as borrowers turn to variable: Mortgage Choice

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The Reserve Bank has kept rates on hold today, at a record low 2.5%. While debate rages over what might happen next, it appears many are predicting a rise in the last quarter of the year.
RP Data's Tim Lawless noted that the housing market statistics are likely to be the factor causing the Reserve Bank some additional deliberation.
"Dwelling values were up 2.3% in March taking the cumulative increase in dwelling values to 15.8% over the current growth cycle which commenced in June 2012," he said.
"While the headline growth rate is very high, it is really Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, which are responsible for driving such high capital gains.  Dwelling values are up 22% and 17% across these two cities since June 2012."
He noted that it's not just these capital gains that will be a concern, but the amount of investment in the market, with investors comprising 38% of all new housing finance commitments. The last time investor numbers were this strong was before the housing boom in 2003.
"Clearly the rate of value appreciation across the Australian housing market has been unsustainably strong over the short-term, however the national economy is seeing a great deal of benefit from the increased level of both developer and buyer confidence which the RBA is likely to see as a positive outcome from the currently exuberant housing market conditions," he said, pointing to a potential increase in the future if value growth continues along its current mark.
"If value growth continues along the current trajectory through I think the Reserve Bank will be forced to take action to quell the level of exuberance via higher interest rates," he said.
This ties in with Property Observer's previously reporting an <a href="/expert-insights/finance/borrowers-warned-of-interest-rate-hikes-by-late-2014">increasing number of economists pointing to a late-2014 increase</a>.
Meanwhile, L Janusz Hooker, deputy chairman of LJ Hooker, said that leaving the cash rate at 2.5% should assist prices stabilising following a year of growth. Hooker also siad that the rate easing cycle is over.
"We have been seeing the benefits of those cuts every weekend at open inspections, people are still out house hunting or looking for investment properties," said Hooker.
"Buyers know it is likely rates will be on the increase some time in the next year and are factoring it into their budget."
Michelle Hutchison, money expert for Finder.com.au said that it's cheaper than ever to switch home loans at present, making the RBA's decision to keep rates on hold good news for consumers.
"More lenders are waiving application fees now than they were three years ago, and coupled with the banning of early exit fees on variable home loans in 2011, it's now cheaper to refinance than what borrowers may think," said Hutchison.
"The average cost to switch now out of variable loans that charge these fees is $719 compared to almost $900 in 2011," she said, noting that borrowers shouldn't wait for any further cuts from the Reserve Bank before seeking out a better deal.
The lack of change today was <a href="/expert-insights/finance/paul-bloxham-expects-rba-to-keep-rates-on-hold-next-week">also predicted by HSBC's Paul Bloxham last week</a>.
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Reserve bank holds interest rates, but property prices make an increase likely

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Glenn Stevens' April statement:
At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent.
Growth in the global economy was a bit below trend in 2013, but there are reasonable prospects of a pick-up this year. The United States economy, while affected by adverse weather, continues its expansion and the euro area has begun a recovery from recession, albeit a fragile one. Japan has recorded a significant pick-up in growth. China's growth remains generally in line with policymakers' objectives, though it may have slowed a little in early 2014. Commodity prices have declined from their peaks but in historical terms remain high.
Financial conditions overall remain very accommodative. Long-term interest rates and most risk spreads remain low. Equity and credit markets are well placed to provide adequate funding, though for some emerging market countries conditions are considerably more challenging than they were a year ago.
In Australia, the economy grew at a below trend pace in 2013. Recent information suggests slightly firmer consumer demand over the summer and foreshadows a solid expansion in housing construction. Some indicators of business conditions and confidence have improved from a year ago and exports are rising. But at the same time, resources sector investment spending is set to decline significantly and, at this stage, signs of improvement in investment intentions in other sectors are only tentative, as firms wait for more evidence of improved conditions before committing to expansion plans. Public spending is scheduled to be subdued.
The demand for labour has remained weak and, as a result, the rate of unemployment has continued to edge higher. It will probably rise a little further in the near term. Growth in wages has declined noticeably. If domestic costs remain contained, some moderation in the growth of prices for non-traded goods could be expected over time, which should keep inflation consistent with the target, even with lower levels of the exchange rate.
<blockquote>
Credit growth is slowly picking up. Dwelling prices have increased significantly over the past year.
</blockquote>
Monetary policy remains accommodative. Interest rates are very low and savers continue to look for higher returns in response to low rates on safe instruments. Credit growth is slowly picking up. Dwelling prices have increased significantly over the past year. The decline in the exchange rate from its highs a year ago will assist in achieving balanced growth in the economy, but less so than previously as a result of the rise over the past few months. The exchange rate remains high by historical standards.
Looking ahead, continued accommodative monetary policy should provide support to demand, and help growth to strengthen over time. Inflation is expected to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target over the next two years.
In the Board's judgement, monetary policy is appropriately configured to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with the target. On present indications, the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates.
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Dwelling prices have increased significantly: RBA Governor Glenn Stevens

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The official cash rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia has been at a historic low of 2.5% since August 2013. In line with that low rate, borrowers are paying less for home mortgages now than they have in over 15 years.
 <img src="/images/2014/03/28/zoe-march-28-one.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
Source: RBA
Lenders typically cut and lift mortgage interest rates roughly in line with the RBA’s movements, charging a margin over the official cash rates. Since late 2007, the extra amount of interest that consumers pay on a variable rate home loan above the official cash has been increasing.
Finder.com.au money expert Michelle Hutchison says lenders have been moving their rates out of cycle with the RBA and failing to pass on rate cuts in full, so the gap between the official cash rate and home loan rates available to borrowers has widened.
RBA data shows that the difference between the official cash rate and the mortgage managers’ basic variable rate – which approximates the average of interest rate actually available to borrowers – was fairly stable at just below 1 percentage point from September 1998 to September 2007. If that relationship still held true, home mortgages with variable interest rates of 3.5% and lower would be common in the market now.
In fact, RBA data shows that the mortgage managers’ basic variable rate was 5% in February 2014, a full 2.5 percentage points more than the official cash rate. Hutchison says the cheapest basic variable rate loan available is 4.49% for a $150,000 mortgage over 30 years from Loans.com.au.
 <img src="/images/2014/03/28/zoe-march-28-two.jpg" alt="">
Source: Reserve Bank of Australia
So, why aren’t headline lending rates lower?
Hutchison says one reason is that borrowers are letting lenders get away with charging more by not shopping around.
“If borrowers are not taking action and doing something about it by comparing home loans and switching to a better, cheaper deal, [lenders are] not going to do anything about it,” she says.
“There are hundreds of home loans on the market and the range of home loan prices is from 4.49% to over 9%. The best thing people can do is keep track of [interest rates]. Don’t sign up to a home loan and forget about it. Review your financial situation every year or two.” 
UBS interest rate strategist Matthew Johnson says few people pay the headline interest rates advertised by lenders. Advertised rates are higher in relation to the cash rate, but lenders have realised that people feel good about getting a discount. Those who are prepared to negotiate can get lower rates than the advertised rate.
Another key reason for the widening gap between the official cash rate and mortgage rates on offer to consumers is that the cost of funding and running a bank has gone up, Johnson says.
Two main sources of funding are available to lenders: financial markets and domestic deposits.
During the financial crisis, lenders found it very difficult and costly to borrow on financial markets as investors lost their appetite for risk. The banks were instead forced to tap local deposits to fund lending, using elevated interest rates on term deposits to lure consumers to save their cash.
As the chart below shows, the amount lenders had to offer on deposits over the cash rate increased dramatically from around 2007. Term deposit interest rates have fallen since mid-2012, but they are still high by historical comparisons. At-call savings account interest rates have remained above average.
<img src="/images/2014/04/01/zoe-april-1-one.jpg" alt="">
“Banks have shifted their funding base away from financial markets to domestic deposits. Banks have passed on a part of their increased funding costs to borrowers,” Johnson says.
Banks also consider credit risk associated with loans and the liquidity risk of funding long-term assets with short-term liabilities when setting interest rates, according to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2014/mar/pdf/bu-0314-8.pdf" target="_blank">a report by the RBA</a>.
“Banks’ growth strategies, competitive pressures and the desire to provide a return to equity holders also affect banks’ lending rates,” the report noted.
“An important element in determining the overall cost of banks’ funding is the level of the cash rate, which acts as an anchor for the broader interest rate structure of the domestic financial system. Nevertheless, changes in the level of compensation demanded by investors to hold bank debt, competitive pressures and non-price factors can exert significant influences on banks’ funding costs.”
Johnson says the trend for lenders to charge a large premium over the cash rate will reverse as financial markets stabilise further and investors in financial instruments regain their appetite for risk.
House prices are rising and banks are well capitalised, easing investor concerns. Fund managers face a shortage of yield-producing assets. Under these conditions, and amid stabilising financial markets, demand will increase for yield-producing assets such as residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).
“That will again make securitisation [through RMBS] a viable funding strategy for the mortgage lenders,” Johnson says.
Non-bank lenders that lack the deposit-base of the big banks will be better able to compete as financial market funding costs fall, putting pressure on the banks to reduce their margins over the cash rate. 
But Johnson warns that might not lead to lower interest rates for consumers.
He says the wide margin between the RBA cash rate and mortgage rates is a big part of the story of why official interest rates are as low as they are now. The RBA has been compensating for the lenders’ higher costs, he says.
“If that [gap] goes back to 1%, then the official cash rate could rise,” Johnson says.
The RBA estimates in its report that even though funding costs have reduced over the past year, they are likely to remain close to 130 percentage points higher than they were before the global financial crisis.
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Gap between official cash rate and home loans continuing to widen

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By the end of the year borrowers will be facing higher interest rates and higher resulting costs, Finder.com.au is warning.
While a recently survey of economists and banking experts predicts the Reserve Bank will keep the cash rate on hold tomorrow, almost half of the 11 surveyed expect the rate to rise in the last quarter of the year.
Those who tipped an increase suggested that the rise might be on Melbourne Cup Day, with experts from Commonwealth Bank, Commsec, HSBC, ING Direct and St George Bank agreeing with a late-year increase forecast.
Money expert at Finder.com.au Michelle Hutchison, said investors should plan now.
“If the official cash rate does increase by the end of the year, it’s likely that we will see home loan interest rates start creeping up before then,” she said.
“So if you’re an existing borrower, it’s a good idea to review your budget and factor in higher costs now, before interest rates rise.”
Hutchison reminded those looking to buy to factor in a buffer for if interest rates do increase.
“It’s great to see that borrowers are confident during this time of stability and are taking advantage of low interest rates by jumping on the property ladder or refinancing their home loan. Despite the finder.com.au survey showing rates aren’t likely to move until at least the end of the year, now is the time to plan for a rate rise,” she said.
The recommended buffer to factor in is for two percentage points in upwards movements, or for a $300,000 loan – an extra $400 per month.
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Borrowers warned of interest rate hikes by late-2014

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Like many topics surrounding tax, depreciation discussions are interlaced with myth and truth. As properties get older, as do their contents, they depreciate in value.
While this doesn’t necessarily point to a drop in capital growth, it does match up well with wear and tear and age, and as such the ATO allows investors to claim a deduction on the building aspect, as well as the ‘plant and equipment’ within. A quick trick to determine plants and equipment is to imagine the property being picked up and shaken. If it falls off, then it is in this category.
Deductions equate to tax reductions for you, and can assist in reducing your holding costs legally.
However, there are four things you need to know about depreciation.
<ol>
<li>
It is an ‘on paper’ cost, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the cost seriously When claiming the deduction from the ATO for tax depreciation, you’ll find that while they’re calling it a ‘cost’ – nothing came from your pocket. This ‘on paper’ cost may not have yet cost you, but don’t consider it free money. There’s a reason that the ATO provides funds for depreciation – and that’s because at some point you’re likely required to replace the plants and equipment and undertake repairs. Many property managers recommend that investors actually use the depreciation guideline to get an understanding of when they’ll likely need to re-carpet, or replace appliances. Get a hold on the ATO’s ‘life’ expectation for what is installed and prepare yourself to spend this money to get your property back into good condition. 
</li>
<li>
You can claim depreciation benefits on things you throw out This is a little-known aspect of depreciation called ‘scrapping’. If renovating or altering a property, it’s likely you’ll throw some things out. If you decide to remove the carpet, or light fittings or any other aspect, keep records and provide them to a quantity surveyor. They should be able to add these into your depreciation schedule for a return from the tax office. Expect to receive a 100% deduction on the residual value of what has been thrown away. 
</li>
<li>
Older properties likely still have depreciable items While knowledge around depreciation is growing, there are still some who do not think older properties can achieve a substantial depreciation benefit. This is not true. If you have not been claiming your tax deduction, you can get your previous returns adjusted. Many quantity surveyors will not charge you if the amount they manage to claim you back doesn’t cover their bill. If you have a property that has been renovated in some way, or extended, even if you were not the person to undertake these improvements then you will find there are extra depreciation benefits here too. You may not even realize that something has been updated within the property, such as hidden items e.g. plumbing, re-wiring or bathrooms that are dated but newer than the property itself. 
</li>
<li>
There are two ways of calculating depreciation There are actually two ways to calculate depreciation. These are the following methods: Diminishing value Prime cost Investors can choose what suits them most. Diminishing value calculates the deduction as a percentage of the balance left to deduct, while the prime cost calculates a percentage of the cost for each year calculated. Essentially, diminishing value allows investors to access more in the first five to 10 years of ownership. If you are requiring more funds, or looking to sell in the short-term, then you might consider this method. However, prime cost provides a steady amount of depreciation year-in, year-out. This may suit those holding for longer or who prefer a fairly certain return each year.</li>
</ol>
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Depreciation: The four things you should know

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The Australian Taxation Office is urging all taxpayers to declare their offshore income to avoid harsh penalties, as part of the ATO’s crackdown on multinational tax avoidance schemes.
The Tax Office has labelled the initiative ‘Project DO IT’, a “last chance” opportunity to come clean about tax avoidance, as it aims to bring billions of dollars back into Australia’s tax system.
In a speech to the Tax Institute of Australia’s National Convention on Wednesday, Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan said taking part in this initiative will allow people to “avoid steep penalties and the risk of criminal prosecution”.
“As governments around the world step up their data sharing and harness powerful technology to find tax cheats, the concept of the 'tax haven' is dying. It's just a matter of time before you'll be caught,” he said.
“If you’ve got international tax liabilities, act now and come forward and we’ll bring you back into the system with a heavily reduced penalty. If you don't declare your interests, you'll be caught and penalised.”
SmartCompany reported a <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/tax/35223-ato-considering-amnesty-for-people-with-hidden-offshore-assets" target="_blank">possible amnesty for tax dodgers</a> earlier this year when it was still being developed.
The amnesty will be open to taxpayers until December 19 this year and stipulates owed tax will be limited to offshore income and assets in the last four years.
People who come forward will also be liable for a shortfall penalty of 10% and for low-level disclosure there will only be minimal penalties, if any.
Eligible taxpayers will also be able to seek assurance regarding the ATO’s tax treatment of repatriated offshore assets and be able to enter a settlement deed to obtain additional certainty.
However, taxpayers will not be entitled to any losses that arose in years prior to the four years in which they will be assessed.
Thomson Reuters tax expert Terry Hayes previously toldSmartCompany similar amnesty initiatives have been successful.
“By and large they have been effective. They have been tried in other countries and the rationale is to get people on the books,” he says.
“People come forward and declare their hidden accounts and then the tax authority gives them a concession. They’re then back on the books and the Tax Office can keep tabs on them going forward. They don’t catch everyone, they never do, but it does give people a chance to own up.”
Hayes says amnesties have been used in the United States, Italy, Britain and other countries across Europe.
“Over time their success is quantifiable. It will bring in extra revenue and get people back on the system, although it’s never guaranteed,” he says.
“For the ATO it’s a matter of cost-benefit analysis. The cost of chasing these offshore assets is really high, both in time and cost of having investigators and lawyers chasing these people.”
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