Brendan Coates

Cathal Leslie, a Gen Z economist with Treasury, OECD and AI sector experience, and Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute housing and economic security lead, debate Australia’s 50% capital gains tax discount. They explore how the discount shaped investment toward housing, who benefits, reform options like halving or targeting the concession, and likely political outcomes. The conversation focuses on effects for prices, rents and social housing.

Join retirement income specialist Susan Thorpe and Brendan Coates, a public policy analyst, as they dissect the quirks of Australia's superannuation system. They delve into the origins of compulsory super and its surprising impact on young and low-income households. Discover how tax concessions disproportionately benefit the wealthy, while many retirees cling to their savings out of uncertainty. Plus, they explore the reforms needed to enhance the system’s fairness and efficiency, and how housing status complicates retirement planning.

Brendan Coates, Housing and Economic Security Program Director at the Grattan Institute, shares his insights on Australia's escalating housing crisis. He discusses the political pledges from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton regarding affordability. Brendan highlights the impact of restrictive zoning laws in Sydney and Melbourne and emphasizes the importance of addressing renters' needs amidst initiatives for first-home buyers. He also proposes crucial policy recommendations that could alleviate housing inequality.