ANZAC DAY

I look forward to Anzac Day each year, as I enjoy the MCG spectacle where Collingwood and Essendon have had some of the greatest football contests.
If you haven't been, I can assure you that the atmosphere is simply amazing and much better than the grand final.

But the significance of the day is much more important.
It's the day we honour those who have served our country, particularly those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

To all our service men and women, past and present, and their families, please accept our sincere thanks.

Lest we forget.

The issue of housing in Australia

The first quarter of this year was certainly active in our markets, and this is reflected by yet another interest rate rise today of .25%

Buyer demand is certainly outstripping supply,and it's times like these that we hear more and more on the news about "housing shortages" and the need for the governments to do more to increase our housing supplies.
Simultaneously home loan affordability continues to be a problem, with many home buyers now believing prices are rising so quickly that they will never get into the market.

The problem is compounded by our governments imposing ridiculous rates of stamp duty at an the entry point to a new home ; a first home buyers scheme that is a fixed dollar amount rather than a percentage of the acquisition ; a lack of tax deductablility on home loan interest paid and a totally inadequate commitment to reducing infrastructure costs and other hurdles placed on developers in order to increase land availability both now and in the future.

Forget investigating the Foreign Investment Regulations Minister , as the answers are not there.Get to the real issues and please do something about them.