The government isn't giving welfare for owning land. Land...

The government isn't giving welfare for owning land. Land holders pay rates to the State and would have also paid stamp duty and a multitude of other taxes to the State relating to the transaction. This is not welfare. When someone buys a house the State collects taxes and the higher the house prices the higher the stamp duty. This is why it is in the government's interest at all levels for property prices to increase.

I have often thought that because the State provides a defence force to defend your title that if you want to hold land a yearly land tax should be paid (with no minimum threshold). In return though stamp duty should be abolished.