Labor’s Stamp Duty Changes Penalise WA Families Aspiring to Detached Homes

The Hon. Maryka Groenewald MLC has questioned the Labor Government’s proposed changes to stamp duty for residential dwellings.

In response to the framework of the Duties Amendment Bill 2025, Ms. Groenewald argues that it introduces unfair disadvantages for first home buyers aspiring to own detached housing, the traditional bedrock for raising a family.

“Families who are first home buyers must have access to detached housing in the same measure as strata and multi-tier units”, stated Ms. Groenewald.

“It is concerning that this Government appears to be engineering a system that preferences one type of housing – and by extension, developers of that housing – over the needs of West Australian families.”

The Duties Amendment Bill 2025, currently before Parliament, offers a stamp duty exemption for first home buyers of standalone houses up to a value of $500,000, with concessional rates applying up to $700,000 in metropolitan Perth and the Peel region, and up to $750,000 in other regions. 

However, a significantly higher full exemption of up to $750,000 is proposed for first home buyers purchasing any type of ‘off-the-plan’ property, including attached strata dwellings and multi-tier units. 

Recent data indicates the median house price in Perth has climbed to over $800,000, placing the $500,000 exemption for detached houses well below the market average, limiting choices for many first home buyers.

Ms. Groenewald called on the Labor Government to reconsider the proposed stamp duty framework and ensure equitable support for all Western Australian first home buyers, regardless of their preferred housing type.

It’s time we implement policies that genuinely support the aspirations of hardworking West Australians”, Families deserve a choice. Ms. Groenewald concluded.