Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has moved a motion in State Parliament following the announcement of a ban on foreign property developers and speculators.

Mr Ward, who has been campaigning for the ban for over a year, said the ban should be permanent and called for a reduction in immigration levels whilst ensuring national policy settings maintain a focus on skilled migration.

“There are so many countries where Australians can’t buy. Why should people be able to buy up our land and speculate during a housing crisis,” Mr Ward said.

“Whilst this isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a good move. But the ban shouldn’t have a sunset clause, it should be made permanent.

“I also think it’s time that the nation tapped the brakes on immigration. Whilst we need skilled migrants, we also need to give our country a chance to take a breath and address housing shortages that are driving up rents and property prices.

“I am certainly not anti-immigration. My mother came to this country. But we need to ensure our nation’s policy settings are in the national interest at this time,” Mr Ward concluded.

Today I give notice that tomorrow I shall move that this House:

1. After lobbying, notes that both major parties now support a ban on foreign overseas property investors buying land in Australia.
2. Calls for the ban to become permanent rather than a 2-year moratorium.
3. Calls for a cut to immigration numbers whilst maintaining a focus on migration that addresses skills shortages in the Australian workforce and drives our national and regional economies.