MELBOURNE, 23 May, 2026: At the Victorian Labor state conference today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese positioned Labor as the party of “builders” and attacked Opposition Leader Angus Taylor as part of a tradition of “cutters and blockers” who prioritise tax concessions for investors over housing supply and younger Australians. He also slammed him for making a distinction between “Australian and migrants.”
Albanese defended Labor’s housing strategy as key to easing cost‑of‑living pressures, arguing that building around 1.2 million homes and a $32 billion “Homes for Australia” package is the most comprehensive federal housing plan in decades. He highlighted social and affordable housing measures, including extra funding for the Housing Australia Future Fund, crisis accommodation for women and children fleeing violence, and incentives for states and universities to build more student and rental stock. He stressed that linking population and student‑growth demand to new supply is “logical, not radical,” and warned that the Coalition under Taylor would repeal housing‑tax reforms and perpetuate a market that favours investors over renters and first‑home buyers.
On tax, Albanese directly targeted Taylor’s defence of the 50% capital gains tax discount and negative gearing, saying these settings distort the market in favour of property investors and wealthy landlords. He framed the changes as a fairness measure to restore the “Australian dream” for younger people and reduce speculation‑driven price pressures.
Albanese also criticised Taylor’s distinction between “Australians and migrants,” accusing him of anti‑migrant, divisive rhetoric and contrasting it with his own message that migrants who build businesses and families in Australia are “proud Australians.” He concluded by casting Labor as the party of “nation‑building” and “working‑class ambition,” warning that Coalition‑style “cuts‑and‑tax‑cuts politics” would deepen the housing crisis rather than solve it.
The conference which passed many resolutions, was also addressed by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, and will conclude on 24 May, 2026.
