"# Are any capital losses due to shares sold able to offset...

"# Are any capital losses due to shares sold able to offset capital gain on the land? (i have losses brought forward over the years from share investments)"

If the land was held for > 12 months you only pay CGT on 50% of the profit, but when offsetting against prior year losses it is somewhat more complicated.

For example:

Share investment capital loss carried forward = $50k.

Land capital gain (after interest, etc.) = $200k and the land was held for > 12 months.

In this case the $50k loss carried forward is offset against the $200k profit. That is, in the current financial year your net capital gain is reduced to $150k.

Now because you owned the land for > 12 months, the CGT is such that 50% of the $150k = $75k is added to your taxable income.

Obviously it would be nice to offset the $50k of prior losses against 50% of the land capital gain, which would result in only 0.5 x 200k - 50k = $50k being added to your taxable income, but the ATO does not see it that way.