Overview
- The ACT government announced that no first‑home buyer will pay stamp duty from 1 July 2026, removing previous income tests and value caps that limited concessions.
- Exemptions are widened to include pensioners, some eligible NDIS recipients, people who have not owned property in the past five years, and owner‑occupiers of new unit‑titled homes.
- The reform is packaged with supply measures such as a pattern book of pre‑approved low‑rise plans, a temporary 50% cut to the lease variation charge, and a five‑year land program targeting about 25,000–26,000 new homes.
- The government expects an initial revenue hit of roughly A$17 million in year one and projects rising net debt, a trade‑off officials say will be managed as stamp duty is phased out over time.
- Key parts of the package still need legislative approval and detailed design, and industry groups warn the changes could reduce investor interest and pressure rental supply if investor incentives fall.