By limiting the Stamp Duty rebates to new homes the NSW State Government has missed a fantastic opportunity for NSW to really sell ourselves as "Open for Business". The NSW property market needs to welcome back investors we lost to the other States and Territories because of this governments prior decision in 2004 to introduce Vendor Duty Tax when selling your property. So why have a large part of one transaction when you could make more money with a smaller part of thousands of transactions?? Stamp Duty represents the largest barrier to conducting a property transaction, for most people paying Stamp Duty doesn't represent a good investment for them. The Stamp Duty Rebates announced by the NSW state government is on the right track reducing stamp duty, but needs to be on all properties.
As a rugby union player for 20 yrs and now a tragic arm chair critic there are two coaches that have inspired consistantly great performances from their teams. They have proved that a "great team" can beat a "team of greats". Those two coaches are Rod McQueen (Wallabies) and Wayne Bennett (Broncos). It was my absolute pleasure to hear him speak at a business conference a fortnight ago - my thanks to Tyan Motor Group who organised the event and to the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader who sponsored the event. For me, it was Wayne Bennetts standards that he insists on and lives by. To be honest with yourself and commit to these standards allows you to set a benchmark that others can strive to achieve, or fall by the wayside - quite simply it's your own choice to make a committment.