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Private interests of Australia's politicians

Real Estate

Politicians and their real estate investments

The great Australian dream of home ownership is out of reach for many Australians unless they can borrow from the bank of mum and dad. But not so for federal parliamentarians, with many owning second homes, investment properties, and holiday homes.

Sean Johnson14 April 2022

Photo Ralph Kayden

Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon owns nine investment properties - she owned 10 this time last year before selling her Arizona property.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has eight homes, seven of which are investment properties.

Queensland MP Andrew Laming has six investment properties, Victorian MP Gladys Liu five investments, and WA MP Ian Goodenough five commercial properties.

While these parliamentarians are outliers, the table below shows it's common for our elected representatives to own one, two or more properties beyond their principal place of residence (PPR), such as a second home in Canberra, a beach house or holiday home, rental property, and commercial real estate.

In total, at least 245 non-PPR real estate holdings have been recorded in the House and Senate interest registers this parliamentary term.

On a party basis, 137 (56%) holdings are held by Coalition MPs and senators, 89 (36%) by ALP representatives, and 19 (<8%) by independents and those from minor parties.

While no one can begrudge politicians for wanting to build their wealth, those Australians without a single home are right to feel aggrieved that many of these holdings would benefit from generous tax treatment like negative gearing (for rentals and holiday/second homes when rented out), capital gains tax concessions, and Travel Allowance (when a politician stays at their Canberra residence).

It's little wonder that abolishing or reducing these tax benefits has proven so hard.

DateRepPersonLocationPurpose
11/04/2019Albanese, AnthonySelfHouse Marrickville (jointly with spouse)↳ Interest no longer held as of 07/09/2021. Deleted from register 15/09/21Investment
11/04/2019Albanese, AnthonySelfHouse - Dulwich HillInvestment
18/05/2019Allen, KatieSelfPoint Lonsdale, Victoria Holiday Home / Investment
11/04/2019Aly, AnneSelfBelmont WA Investment / rental
11/04/2019Aly, AnneSelfWilson WA Investment / rental
21/03/2021Andrews, KarenSelfClear Island Waters, QueenslandInvestment
11/04/2019Andrews, KarenSelfMudgeeraba, QueenslandInvestment
11/04/2019Andrews, KarenSelfPalm Beach, QueenslandInvestment
11/04/2019Andrews, KarenSelfAyr, QueenslandInvestment
11/04/2019Andrews, KarenSelfDeniliquin, NSWInvestment
11/04/2019Andrews, KarenSelfKalgoorlie, Western Australia Investment
11/04/2019Andrews, KevinSelfKilmore, Victoria ↳ Deleted from register 3/08/21Residential, investment
11/04/2019Andrews, KevinSelfWalkerville, SA Residential, investment
18/05/2019Archer, BridgetSelfSt Helens, Tasmania Holiday property (co-owned with spouse)
19/11/2019Askew, WendySelfLocation - Prospect Vale Tas↳ Deleted from register 26/05/21Investment property (joint with spouse)
12/07/2019Askew, WendySelfLauncestonInvestment
25/07/2019Ayres, TimSelfCurrarong, NSWHoliday house↳ Changed to holiday house and investment property. 25/02/21
10/07/2019Bilyk, CatrynaSelfSouth Hobart, TASInvestment
10/07/2019Bilyk, CatrynaSelfSouth Hobart, TASInvestment
10/07/2019Bilyk, CatrynaSelfKingston, TASInvestment
16/07/2019Birmingham, SimonSelfKlemzig, SAInvestment
11/04/2019Bowen, ChrisSelfBawley Point - half share with spouseHoliday and investment
29/07/2019Bragg, AndrewSelfPaddington, NSW ↳ Deleted from register 3/12/19Investment
08/07/2019Brockman, SladeSelfNorth Lake, WAInvestment
08/07/2019Brockman, SladeSelfGriffith, ACTInvestment
19/07/2019Brown, CarolSelfWest Hobart, TasmaniaInvestment Property
04/09/2020Buchholz, ScottSelfBlackwater, QLD Investment Property
11/04/2019Buchholz, ScottSelfBlackwater, QLD Investment
19/01/2022Burke, TonySelfHuon Valley CouncilInvestment Property
19/01/2022Burke, TonySelfCity of Port PhillipInvestment Property
14/11/2019Burke, TonySelfUnit - Canberra Investment
11/04/2019Burney, LindaSelfMarrickville, NSWInvestment
11/04/2019Burney, LindaSelfCooks Hill, NSWInvestment
11/04/2019Burney, LindaSelfBarton, ACTInvestment
11/04/2019Butler, MarkSelfGrange, South Australia Investment↳ Changed from residential 17/01/22
04/07/2019Carr, KimSelfLake EucumbeneHoliday/investment
17/07/2019Cash, MichaeliaSelfEast Perth ↳ Sale of property 05/08/20. Deleted from register 10/08/20Investment with spouse
17/07/2019Cash, MichaeliaSelfFloreat WAInvestment with spouse
17/07/2019Cash, MichaeliaSelfTurnerSecond residence
11/04/2019Chalmers, JimSelfApartment (Forrest, ACT)Secondary Residence
22/09/2020Chandler, ClaireSelfBlackmans Bay, TAS Investment property (co-owned with spouse)
11/04/2019Chester, DarrenSelfLakes Entrance VICINVESTMENT
11/04/2019Chester, DarrenSelfIvanhoe VICINVESTMENT
19/07/2019Ciccone, RaffSelfOakleigh East, VICInvestment
19/07/2019Ciccone, RaffSelfOakleigh East, VICInvestment
21/10/2021Clare, JasonSelfMilton joint with spouseHoliday and investment
30/07/2019Colbeck, RichardSelfDEVONPORT TASInvestment property
11/04/2019Coleman, DavidSelfCronulla NSW↳ Deleted from register 30/10/20Investment Property
11/04/2019Collins, JulieSelfGriffith, ACTSecond home for work
18/05/2019Conaghan, PatSelfKempseyInvestment
11/08/2020Coulton, MarkSelfBingara, NSW Investment
11/04/2019Coulton, MarkSelfNarrabri, NSW↳ Deleted from register 21/10/21Investment
11/04/2019Coulton, MarkSelfNew Acton, ACTResidential (Canberra)
07/12/2020Davey, PerinSelfTocumwal, NSW Joint investment with spouse
19/07/2019Davey, PerinSelfGriffith, ACTInvestment (joint with spouse)
19/07/2019Davey, PerinSelfDeniliquin, NSWInvestment (joint with spouse)
11/04/2019Dick, MiltonSelfGriffith, ACT Secondary Residence
11/04/2019Dick, MiltonSelfClayfield, Qld Investment Property
11/04/2019Dick, MiltonSelfSunrise Beach, Qld Investment Property
11/04/2019Dreyfus, MarkSelfSouth Yarra VICInvestment through superannuation fund
22/07/2019Duniam, JonathonSelfSurfers Paradise, QLD Investment
22/07/2019Duniam, JonathonSelfSurfers Paradise, QLD Investment
06/09/2021Dutton, PeterSelfBrisbane CBDResidential investment
01/05/2020Dutton, PeterSelfRHT Investment (QLD) P/L as Trustee for RHT Family Trust owns investment property in Townsville (Extension of 45th Parliament interest, which declared purchase)Investment property
11/04/2019Dutton, PeterSelfMoreton Island, Qld ↳ Deleted from register 6/09/21Residential investment
11/04/2019Dutton, PeterSelfSpring Hill, Qld↳ Deleted from register 6/09/21Residential investment
11/04/2019Dutton, PeterSelfPalm Beach, Qld ↳ Deleted from register 6/05/21Residential investment
11/04/2019Dutton, PeterSelfKingston ACT↳ Deleted from register 30/07/19Residential Investment
11/04/2019Elliot, JustineSelfFingal Head↳ Deleted from register 9/12/20Investment
11/04/2019Elliot, JustineSelfMurwillumbahInvestment
11/04/2019Elliot, JustineSelfToowongInvestment
09/12/2020Falinski, JasonSelfCanberra Investment property
11/04/2019Falinski, JasonSelfWoolloomoolooInvestment
30/07/2019Faruqi, MehreenSelfBeaconsfield, NSWInvestment - joint owned with spouse
30/07/2019Faruqi, MehreenSelfPort Macquarie, NSWInvestment - joint owned with spouse
02/07/2019Fawcett, DavidSelfNoosa, Qld Investment
02/07/2019Fawcett, DavidSelfCivic, ACTInvestment
25/07/2019Fierravanti-Wells, ConcettaSelfNeutral Bay, NSWInvestment
25/07/2019Fierravanti-Wells, ConcettaSelfUmbria, ItalyInvestment
11/04/2019Fitzgibbon, JoelSelfCessnock NSWCommercial
11/04/2019Fitzgibbon, JoelSelfYarralumla ACTUnit - Canberra Residence
11/04/2019Fletcher, PaulSelfPaddingtonInvestment
30/07/2020Flint, NicolleSelfAdelaide Investment Property
11/04/2019Gillespie, DavidSelfRANDWICK, NSWINVESTMENT RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
11/04/2019Gillespie, DavidSelfPORT MACQUARIEINVESTMENT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
11/04/2019Goodenough, IanSelfOffice, Belmont, Western AustraliaBusiness and Investment
11/04/2019Goodenough, IanSelfWarehouse, Belmont, Western AustraliaBusiness and Investment
11/04/2019Goodenough, IanSelfCommercial Tenancy, Currambine, Western AustraliaBusiness and Investment
11/04/2019Goodenough, IanSelfCommercial Storage Unit, Currambine, Western AustraliaBusiness and Investment
11/04/2019Goodenough, IanSelfRural Property, Red Gully, Western AustraliaBusiness and Investment
29/07/2019Green, NitaSelfMermaid Beach, QueenslandInvestment
11/07/2019Griff, StirlingSelfAdelaide↳ Deleted from register 13/12/21Residential investment via SMSF
11/07/2019Griff, StirlingSelfAdelaideCommercial investment via SMSF share in unit trusts
11/07/2019Griff, StirlingSelfAdelaideCommercial investment via SMSF share in unit trusts
11/07/2019Griff, StirlingSelfAdelaideCommercial investment via SMSF share in unit trusts
08/11/2021Grogan, KarenSelfRosewater, South AustraliaInvestment
13/03/2022Haines, HelenSelf50% share of residential property Northcote Victoria 3070Investment
04/07/2020Hamilton, GarthSelfSouth ToowoombaInvestment
04/07/2020Hamilton, GarthSelfSouth ToowoombaInvestment
04/07/2020Hamilton, GarthSelfMiddle RidgeInvestment
11/04/2019Hayes, ChrisSelfGriffith ACTCanberra Residence
11/04/2019Hayes, ChrisSelfManyana NSWHoliday House
11/04/2019Hayes, ChrisSpouse/partnerGriffith ACTCanberra Residence
11/04/2019Hayes, ChrisSpouse/partnerManyana NSWHoliday Home
11/04/2019Hill, JulianSelfKingsville↳ Sold (Settlement date 19 August 2019). Deleted from register 28/08/1960% share: Family support, investment
11/04/2019Hill, JulianSelfKingston52% share: Residential, investment
13/01/2021Hogan, KevinSelfBallina LGAInvestment Property, SMSF
11/04/2019Hogan, KevinSelfLismore City Council, NSW, 2480Residence, Primary Production, Investment Property
17/03/2021Howarth, LukeSelfMount Pleasant, QueenslandInvestment property
11/04/2019Howarth, LukeSelfShorncliffe house ↳ Deleted from register 17/03/21Investment
11/04/2019Howarth, LukeSelfPinkenba houseInvestment
11/04/2019Irons, SteveSelfHouse -WAResidence/Investment
11/04/2019Kearney, GedSelfHervey Bay, QLDInvestment property (50% share)
11/04/2019Kearney, GedSelfHarmers Haven, VICVacant land - potential holiday location (37% share)
11/04/2019Kearney, GedSpouse/partnerHarmers Haven, VICVacant land - potential holiday location (38% share)
11/04/2019Khalil, PeterSelfMurrumbeenaInvestment
02/03/2020King, CatherineSelfPurchase of investment property - Ballarat - settlement 10 April 2020Investment property
11/04/2019King, MadeleineSelfShoalwater Bay WA (2004 - joint)Former Residence, now investment↳ Changed back to residence on 19/01/21
11/04/2019King, MadeleineSelfOsmington WA (2007 - 1/3 share joint)Holiday Home↳ Investment property 19/01/21
11/04/2019King, MadeleineSpouse/partnerOsmington WA (2007 - 1/3 share joint)Holiday Home↳ Investment property 19/01/21
11/04/2019King, MadeleineSelfBarton ACT (2016 - sole ownership)Canberra residence
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfThornlands homeInvestment
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfThornlands homeInvestment
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfThornlands homeInvestment
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfThornlands homeInvestment
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfMooloolaba apartmentInvestment
11/04/2019Laming, AndrewSelfCanberra apartmentInvestment
11/04/2019Ley, SussanSelfGold CoastInvestment
22/07/2019Lines, SueSelfBusselton, WA Investment
22/07/2019Lines, SueSelfRedfern, NSW Investment
22/07/2019Lines, SueSelfVictoria Park, WA Investment
20/07/2021Liu, GladysSelfCity of WhitehorseInvestment
09/04/2020Liu, GladysSelfCAMP HILL Investment
18/05/2019Liu, GladysSelfKewInvestment
18/05/2019Liu, GladysSelfFlemington (Family Trust)Investment
18/05/2019Liu, GladysSelfBrisbane (SMSF)Investment
11/04/2019Marles, RichardSelfEast GeelongInvestment
13/05/2021McAllister, JennySelfRedfern, NSW (held jointly with spouse)Investment
04/07/2020McBain, KristySelfTura Beach, NSWInvestment
04/07/2020McBain, KristySelfBega, NSWInvestment
11/04/2019McBride, EmmaSelfNorah HeadInvestment
11/04/2019McCormack, MichaelSelfMelbourneInvestment
20/01/2020McKenzie, BridgetSelfResidential Property, Middle Park Victoria Investment
24/07/2019McKenzie, BridgetSelfElwood, VictoriaInvestment
21/12/2021McKim, NickSelfNew Norfolk, TasmaniaInvestment property
26/07/2019McKim, NickSelfNubeena TasmaniaHoliday Home - joint with partner
26/07/2019McKim, NickSpouse/partnerNubeena TasmaniaHoliday Home - joint with partner
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfArizona USA ↳ Deleted from register 23/03/21Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfKatherine NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfPalmerston NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfNoosa QLD Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfGillen NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfGillen NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfAlice Springs NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfDouglas QLD Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfKatherine NT Investment
16/07/2019McMahon, SamSelfGili Gede Lombok Indonesia Investment
13/10/2020Morton, BenSelfGriffith ACT Canberra Accommodation
11/04/2019Neumann, ShayneSelfInterest in residential unit at Caloundra, QueenslandInvestment - rental
11/04/2019Neumann, ShayneSelfInterest in residential unit at Palm Beach, QueenslandInvestment - rental
14/04/2020O'Brien, TedSelfCanberra, ACT Second residence (sitting weeks and during other Parliamentary duty)
11/04/2019O'Brien, TedSelfNewstead QLD ↳ Deleted from register 5/04/22Investment
11/04/2019O'Brien, TedSelfMaroochydore QLD↳ Deleted from register 28/04/21Investment (minority part-interest)
11/04/2019O'Connor, BrendanSelfLorne, VicHoliday House (occasional rental)
11/04/2019O'Connor, BrendanSelfGriffith, ACTInvestment
11/04/2019O'Dowd, KenSelfGladstoneUnit Investment
10/05/2021O'Neil, ClareSelfProperty in East Melbourne - jointly with spouse. Investment property
29/07/2019O'Neill, DeborahSelfStanley, TASInvestment
29/07/2019O'Neill, DeborahSelfAlcomie, TASInvestment
29/07/2019O'Neill, DeborahSelfYorky's Knob, QLDInvestment
10/12/2020Owens, JulieSelfResidential Property - Mudgee Region (Co-owned with partner) Holiday home
10/12/2020Owens, JulieSpouse/partnerResidential Property - Mudgee Region (Co-owned with partner) Holiday home
25/06/2020Paterson, JamesSelfMornington Peninsula, VictoriaInvestment property
29/07/2019Patrick, RexSelfCoolum Beach QLD ↳ Deleted from register 14/02/22Investment
29/07/2019Patrick, RexSelfWoolooware NSW Investment
29/07/2019Patrick, RexSelfCoolum Beach QLD Investment
18/05/2019Phillips, FionaSelfMyolaInvestment (Joint with spouse)
27/10/2021Pitt, KeithSelfBrisbane Residential investment property - owned by Klare (QLD) Pty Ltd, trustee for K & A Pitt Family Trust
11/04/2019Pitt, KeithSelfBundaberg, QLD ↳ Property sold Deleted from register 16/07/21SMSF - investment
11/04/2019Pitt, KeithSelfKingston, ACTInvestment (family trust)
11/04/2019Plibersek, TanyaSelfCaringbah, NSWInvestment (with spouse)
11/04/2019Plibersek, TanyaSelfLjubljana, SloveniaInvestment (with spouse)
26/06/2019Polley, HelenSelfNEWSTEADINVESTMENT
26/06/2019Polley, HelenSelfKINGSTON ACTINVESTMENT
11/04/2019Porter, ChristianSelfKINGSTON ACT ↳ Deleted from register 27/02/20CANBERRA RESIDENCE
11/04/2019Ramsey, RowanSelfPort NeillBeach House
11/04/2019Ramsey, RowanSpouse/partnerPort NeillBeach House
03/09/2020Rennick, GerardSelfCabarita beach (Shared with spouse)Investment Property
29/07/2019Rennick, GerardSelfPaddingtonInvestment Property
29/07/2019Rennick, GerardSelfChinchillaInvestment Property (Shared with Spouse)
29/07/2019Rennick, GerardSelfCanberraSecond Residence (offer made subject to settlement)
24/07/2019Reynolds, LindaSelfBali, IndonesiaHoliday home
30/07/2021Rice, JanetSelfSisters Beach, TasmaniaResidential (holiday home)
11/04/2019Rishworth, AmandaSelfGriffith ACTSecond home
11/04/2019Rishworth, AmandaSelfCumberland Park SA (jointly owed with spouse)Investment
11/04/2019Rowland, MichelleSelfPotts PointResidential Investment
11/04/2019Rowland, MichelleSelfCaves BeachResidential Investment
17/10/2019Seselja, ZedSelfTuggeranong, ACT Investment - Residential House
08/11/2021Sharkie, RebekhaSelfHouse - Bucasia QLD Investment
18/05/2019Sharma, DaveSelfBrisbane QLD↳ Deleted from register 24/03/21Investment
18/05/2019Sharma, DaveSelfBarton ACTResidential and investment
09/12/2020Small, BenSelfMillbridge, WA 6232 Investment
09/12/2020Small, BenSelfMillbridge, WA 6233Investment
09/12/2020Small, BenSelfAustralind, WA 6233Investment
09/12/2020Small, BenSelfAustralind, WA 6233Investment
09/12/2020Small, BenSelfAustralind, WA 6233Investment
09/08/2021Smith, DeanSelfInglewood, Western Australia Investment
29/07/2019Smith, DeanSelfLyons, ACTInvestment
11/04/2019Smith, TonySelfBlairgowrie (Share Property)Holiday Home
11/04/2019Snowdon, WarrenSelfNarrabundah, ACT (with Spouse)Second residence
11/04/2019Snowdon, WarrenSpouse/partnerNarrabundah, ACT (with Spouse)Second residence
11/04/2019Stanley, AnneSelfWatson, ACT Investment
18/05/2019Steggall, ZaliSelfManly, NSWInvestment property
08/07/2019Sterle, GlennSelfHalls Head WAInvestment
08/07/2019Sterle, GlennSelfKingston ACTInvestment
06/04/2020Sukkar, MichaelSelfRingwood NorthInvestment
11/04/2019Sukkar, MichaelSelfCanberra Investment
31/03/2022Swanson, MerylSelfKingston ACT jointly owner with spouse Residence
11/04/2019Swanson, MerylSelfKurri Kurri, NSW (jointly owned with spouse)Investment
11/04/2019Tehan, DanSelfO'Connor, ACTResidential investment
18/05/2019Thompson, PhillipSelfTownsvilleInvestment
18/05/2019Thwaites, KateSelfCollingwoodInvestment
11/04/2019Tudge, AlanSelfCanberraCanberra residence
11/04/2019Vamvakinou, MariaSelfSunshineInvestment
13/05/2021Vasta, RossSelfCarina QLD Investment Property
11/04/2019Vasta, RossSelfBrisbane QLDInvestment Property
11/04/2019Vasta, RossSelfManly QLDInvestment Property
11/04/2019Wallace, AndrewSpouse/partnerKelowna, British Columbia, CanadaInvestment/Holiday house
11/07/2019Walsh, JessSelfByron Bay, NSWInvestment
11/04/2019Watts, TimSelfApartment, KingstonInvestment
18/05/2019Wells, AnikaSelfTeneriffe, QLD ↳ Deleted from register 30/07/20Joint investment with spouse
25/07/2019Whish-Wilson, PeterSelfBicheno, Tasmania ↳ Deleted from register 3/02/20Holiday home (jointly owned with spouse)
25/07/2019Whish-Wilson, PeterSpouse/partnerBicheno, Tasmania ↳ Deleted from register 3/02/20Holiday home (jointly owned with spouse)
11/04/2019Wicks, LucySelfDee Why NSW ↳ Formerly jointly owned with former spouse. Transferred to sole ownership 24/06/20↳ Deleted from register 23/12/20Investment
03/12/2020Wilkie, AndrewSelfSouthport Tasmania 7109 ↳ Deleted from register 3/12/20Holiday home
03/12/2020Wilkie, AndrewSelfSouthport Tasmania 7109 Joint tenant with spouse/partner - Holiday home
11/04/2019Wilson, JoshSelfBeaconsfield, WA - jointly with spouseInvestment
11/04/2019Wilson, JoshSelfSpearwood, WA - jointly with spouseInvestment
11/04/2019Wilson, RickSelfScarborough, WAInvestment
11/04/2019Wilson, RickSelfGriffith, ACT Investment
29/06/2021Wilson, TimSelfProperty, City of Melbourne (co-owned)Investment
11/04/2019Wilson, TimSelfProperty, City of Melbourne↳ Deleted from register 29/06/21Investment
11/04/2019Wilson, TimSelfProperty, Mornington Peninsula Shire (Co-owned)Residence/Investment
11/04/2019Wilson, TimSelfProperty, Australian Capital Territory (Co-owned)Residence/Investment
11/04/2019Wood, JasonSelfDandenong RangesCommercial
18/05/2019Young, TerrySelfScarborough QLD↳ Deleted from register 24/05/21Investment property
11/04/2019Zappia, TonySelfPooraka50% interest - investment
11/04/2019Zappia, TonySelfIngle Farm20% interest - investment
11/04/2019Zappia, TonySelfMoana20% interest - holiday home

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