GEN City of Joondalup’s Citizenship Ceremony at Joondalup Resort. Liberal leader Basil Zempilas.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has announced plans for “substantial and significant” tax reforms aimed at addressing the housing crisis in Western Australia. This pledge comes as the call for changes to stamp duty for first-home buyers intensifies. Zempilas has long advocated for linking the duty-free threshold to the median house price, a move he believes would better support first-time purchasers.
During a recent statement, Zempilas emphasized that while the details of the tax reform are still under development, his party is committed to implementing “genuine taxation reform” before the next State election. “It is not an official policy that I am announcing in detail today,” he noted. “But I can tell you that the Liberal Party, the Parliamentary Liberal Party in Western Australia, strongly believes that when we address the housing emergency that is before us, we have to be serious about genuine taxation reform, and the State Government has not been.”
The Liberal Party leader confirmed that his party would pursue substantial reforms as part of its platform for the upcoming election. “Will the Liberal Party take genuine reform forward to the next election? Yes we will,” he stated. “I’m not going to give you the details now, but it is an area that has not had due attention from this State Government that will be given due consideration over the next years of our time in Opposition.”
Currently, first-home buyers in the Perth and Peel regions are exempt from paying stamp duty on properties valued up to $500,000. They also benefit from reduced rates on purchases up to $700,000. Elsewhere in Western Australia, the threshold for reduced rates extends to $750,000. These thresholds were increased in mid-2025, rising from $450,000 for no duty and $600,000 for a reduced rate. Despite these adjustments, the median house price in Perth has surged, now approaching the $1 million mark.
The current government, led by Cook Government, has been reluctant to make further changes to the stamp duty thresholds. John Carey, the Housing Minister, expressed concerns that hasty reforms could exacerbate the housing affordability crisis. “It’s important that governments act responsibly because poorly targeted or rushed changes can add further pressure to a tight market, driving prices higher rather than improving affordability,” he told The West Australian in January.
Zempilas’ proposal has garnered support from various property organisations, including the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA). Suzanne Brown, the president of REIWA, has advocated for more flexible thresholds to better accommodate the current housing market dynamics.
As the housing crisis continues to impact many Western Australians, Zempilas’ commitments signal a potential shift in policy focus. His party’s forthcoming tax reform plan will likely play a significant role in shaping the political landscape leading up to the next election.
