Labor MPs labelled ‘property barons’

Seven out of the 11 Victorian Nationals MPs own additional properties, meaning 52 per cent of both Labor and Coalition MPs multiple properties.

Ms D’Ambrosio, Labor’s energy and climate minister, owns six investment properties through a family trust, including one in the affluent inner-city suburb of Carlton where the median house price is $1.5 million, two in Fawkner, one in Brunswick, one in Melbourne, and one in the Mornington Peninsula suburb of McCrae, where the median house price is $1.3 million.

Mr Dimopoulos, the sport and tourism minister, owns investment properties in Hughesdale, Footscray, and the leafy south-east Melbourne suburb of Malvern, where the median house price is $3 million, as well as Aldinga Beach in South Australia, and Woree in Queensland, near Cairns.

Ms Symes, the attorney-general, owns additional properties in Collingwood, where the median house price is $1.2 million, a coastal getaway at Point Lonsdale, where the median house price is $1.6 million, and Maidstone.

Mr Pearson, the government services minister who was earlier this year forced to admit to an error of judgement for no disclosing a potential conflict of interest over his Commonwealth Bank shares, owns additional properties in Winchelsea, Sunbury, St. Albans, and the seaside town of Ocean Grove, where the median house price is $1.1 million.

Ms Thomas, the health minister who has also been tipped as a potential future deputy premier in the event Jacinta Allan one day replaces Mr Andrews in the top job, owns additional properties in Carlton North, Northcote, and North Melbourne.

Labor MP Sonja Terpstra, who does not own any investment properties, on Wednesday said the Victorian government’s latest budget “might encourage wealth property (barons to) sell multiple properties”, which she indicated could increase supply.

“Like how many properties does one need to own,” she asked.

Former Labor strategist turned pollster Kos Samaras said that he had a “personal and moral objection to people on my side of politics owning more than their own home.”

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said Labor’s budget was anti-aspirational, highlighting that one-third of Victorians who own additional properties earn less than $100,000 a year.

“If you own more than one property, it’s almost like you’re resented for it,” he said.

“Is Mr Andrews and his government really saying to Victorians that what we really want is in this state is a one property a person policy?

“Are we going to demonise people who save and invest and create their own retirement nest eggs? Daniel Andrews and his government are punishing hope. They are punishing aspiration.”

A Victorian government spokeswoman said the average increase in land tax from the temporary levy will be $1,300 on land valuation of $650,000, which equates to a holiday or investment property worth about $1.3 million.

“We are doing what matters – paying down our COVID Debt, so it’s not left for generations to come,” she said.

“The land tax levy is temporary, targeted and above all, responsible.”