"Negative gearing by property investors reduced personal income tax revenue in Australia by $600 million in the 2001-02 tax year and $3.9 billion in 2004-05. "
What is there something like 10mil households across Australia with say about 30% renting. I am sure someone has the accurate figures but it is probably a reasonable guess. So we have something like 3 mil rental households across Australia. Therefore based on the 2004/05 figures it has cost the gov't around $1300 on average per household to provide the accommodation via private investors - seems pretty good value for money to me as it would probably cost the gov't 5 to 10 times that per annum to provide the same housing for renters.
