The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
FINAL CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR URBANITY-25 JOIN MORE THAN 550 ALREADY ATTENDING
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR URBANITY 550+ ALREADY ATTENDING
REGISTER NOWDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
InfrastructureAna NarvaezTue 02 Apr 19

Federal Budget 2019: What’s in Store for the Property Industry

TUD+ MEMBER CONTENT
14412002-05ed-4bd6-b05c-a6bb02e04a37
SHARE
394
print
Print

Infrastructure is the big winner in this year’s budget, with the government splurging on roads and railways to fight congestion and prop up a lethargic economy.

Just weeks away from the election, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered his maiden budget on Tuesday, unveiling $100 billion in infrastructure funding over the next decade.

Seen by many as a last ditch attempt to stave off election defeat, the budget appealed to Australia’s low and middle income earners — promising cash rebates, $19.5 billion in tax cuts and extra incentives for apprenticeships.

The headline $100 billion figure significantly increases the government’s $75 billion plan announced in last year’s budget, and includes funds to build commuter car parks to relieve urban congestion.

The $1 billion urban congestion fund — established in last year’s budget — has been topped up with $3 billion, which treasurer Frydenberg said was about introducing “practical measures” to cut commuter travel times.

High-speed rail was an unsurprising budget beneficiary — on top of Morrison’s recent $2 billion promise to fund the Geelong to Melbourne fast rail, Frydenberg promised fast rail corridors from Sydney to Wollongong, Brisbane to Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to Gold Coast and Melbourne to Shepparton, Traralgon and Wodonga.

Related: Shock Surge in Apartment Approvals Unlikely to Last: ABS

The economic forecasts for growth, employment and wages have all been cut, and the treasurer warned that the outlook for the housing market remains uncertain.

“Following declines in housing prices and building approvals, partly in response to a rebalancing in supply and demand, dwelling investment is expected to detract from growth,” the budget papers said.

Australia’s annual migration intake will be cut from 190,000 to 160,000, which Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox described as “disappointing”.

“There are real risks around the cuts to permanent migration, in the modest improvement to the budgetary outlook and in the shortage of measures to substantially boost domestic productivity.”

While the treasurer mentioned the $300 million raised by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation first social bond, the budget offered no new housing affordability initiatives.

No mention was made of build-to-rent, despite the opposition's recent proposal to halve the 30 per cent withholding tax rate on managed investment trusts.

Industry group the Property Council of Australia said that budget papers highlighted the downside risk of further house price falls.

“Australia’s housing sector is worth $7 trillion – more than twice the size of the share market – so treasury are right to flag the risks for the economy,” Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison said.

“The headlines of surplus, infrastructure and tax relief are welcome, but falling house prices are clearly treasury’s economic wildcard.”

InfrastructureHotelIndustrialRetailResidentialAustraliaConstructionFinancePolicyReal EstateConstructionSector
AUTHOR
Ana Narvaez
The Urban Developer - Editorial Director
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Warren and Mahoney Western Bulldogs Women's Health and Leadership Hub HERO
Exclusive

Beyond the Boys’ Club: Inclusive Architecture Disrupting Sporting Precincts

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Exclusive

Inside the $10m Heritage Refit of Sydney’s $25,000-a-Year Members’ Club

Taryn Paris
4 Min
Kurraba Point 93 Kurraba Road TUD PLUS
Residential

Council Over Court: How HFO Won Rare North Sydney Approval

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Exclusive

Why Sentinel is Betting Big on Olympic City Office Sector

Phil Bartsch
5 Min
The Port of Brisbane has released its Vision 2060 which details the need for inland rail connectivity
Infrastructure

Brisbane Port’s $15bn Future Faces One Big Obstacle

Renee McKeown
5 Min
View All >
Warren and Mahoney Western Bulldogs Women's Health and Leadership Hub HERO
Exclusive

Beyond the Boys’ Club: Inclusive Architecture Disrupting Sporting Precincts

Leon Della Bosca
Development

Zen Group’s West End Towers Greenlit

Taryn Paris
An aerial view of Ipswich, whose suburb Springfield Lakes, had the highest number of house sales for Queensland in Q2, 2025.
Residential

Ipswich Suburb Leads Queensland House Sales

Marisa Wikramanayake
A quiet dark horse in the race, Ipswich's Springfield Lakes has now topped Queensland's house sales list for the second …
LATEST
Warren and Mahoney Western Bulldogs Women's Health and Leadership Hub HERO
Exclusive

Beyond the Boys’ Club: Inclusive Architecture Disrupting Sporting Precincts

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Development

Zen Group’s West End Towers Greenlit

Taryn Paris
2 Min
An aerial view of Ipswich, whose suburb Springfield Lakes, had the highest number of house sales for Queensland in Q2, 2025.
Residential

Ipswich Suburb Leads Queensland House Sales

Marisa Wikramanayake
5 Min
Goldfields Kyneton Central Edgecombe Road precinct rendering
Development

Goldfields Forges Ahead on $150m Kyneton Central Hub

Leon Della Bosca
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/federal-budget-2019-whats-in-store-for-the-property-industry