A list of Australia’s top politicians and property investors has been released as pressure mounts on the government to fix the country’s housing crisis.
While many Australians struggle to find a home and afford rising rents and mortgages, it was recently revealed that the top 15 homeowner politicians own a combined 88 homes.
Analysis of the Register of Interests of the Members of the 47th Parliament, completed by Real Estate.com.au found that 95 percent of Australia’s 227 federal politicians are homeowners.
Only 10 members of parliament or senators had no real estate in their name.
Although Queensland MP for Fisher Andrew Wallace has no official property holdings in his name, his wife owns homes in Wurtulla on the Sunshine Coast and in Kelowna, Canada.
Two of his companies – Wallco Property Group and QHF Properties – also have extensive real estate portfolios, with the former alone involved in more than a dozen real estate transactions.
Wallco currently owns land in Monkland and Bli Bli, both in Queensland. The second house is currently for sale and accepting ‘best offers’.
Last year, Mr Wallace also sold a five-unit property at Bargara in south-east Queensland for a profit of $1.295 million.
A list of Australia’s top politicians and property investors has been released, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre right) failing to make the top 15
Andrew Wallace’s Wallco Property Group has been involved in more than a dozen property transactions and currently owns this home in Bli Bli on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which is for sale and accepting ‘best offers’.
Nola Marino, MP for Forrest in Western Australia, owned the largest property portfolio on the register with eight properties covering a total area of over 380 hectares.
Nearly all of these farms are used for dairy, beef and hay production, as well as for the sale, breeding, racing and rental of thoroughbred horses.
They have been in her husband’s possession for decades, although the couple owns only one home.
Labor’s Brendan O’Connor (Gorton, Victoria), Labor’s Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Higgins, VIC) and Liberal National’s Karen Andrews (McPherson, Queensland) each own seven properties.
Mr O’Connor has homes in Niddrie, Keilor, Fitzroy and Lorne, while his partner owns homes in Euroa, Longwood and Creightons Creek.
Dr Ananda-Rajah, together with her partner, co-owns properties in Porepunkah, North Melbourne, North Carlton and Canterbury in Victoria, Beaumaris in Tasmania and two properties in Brisbane
Ms Andrews recently sold one of her seven properties in Ayr in Queensland’s Burdekin region, but quickly made up for the missing real estate by purchasing another investment in Toowoomba.
She also co-owns properties in Deniliquin in the NSW Riverina, the mining town of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, two on the Gold Coast and another in nearby Mudgeeraba.
While Andrew Wallace (pictured), MP for Fisher – Queensland, has no real estate directly linked to his name, his wife owns homes on the Sunshine Coast and in Canada
Forrest MP Nola Marino owns property in Western Australia primarily for agriculture, including this property
Three other members each own six properties.
Tasmanian-based Liberal Gavin Pearce owns four properties in Lapoinya, one in Myalla and another under his partner’s name in Arthur River.
Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, SA) owns property in Cumberland, Canberra and five properties in South Australia.
Anthony Burke’s (Watson, NSW) properties are located in Punchbowl – NSW, Meander Valley – TAS, Belconnen – ACT, Port Phillip – VIC and in Tasmania Sorell and Huon Valley.
Seven members – Labor’s Antonio Zappia (Makin, SA), Deborah O’Neill (NSW, Senate), Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, NSW), Catryna Bilyk (TAS, Senate), Andrew Willcox (Dawson, QLD), Gerard Rennick (QLD Senate), Colin Boyce (Flynn, QLD) – each own five properties across Australia.
Premier Anthony Albanese has a slightly less impressive portfolio with just three properties, all located in Australia’s fast-growing suburbs.
Mr Wallace’s company also sold a five-unit property at Bargara (pictured) in south-east Queensland last year for a profit of $1.295 million.
The Prime Minister owns a residential home in Canberra, another home in Marrickville and an investment property in nearby Dulwich Hill in Sydney’s west.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton owns two properties: a home/farm in rural Dayboro and an investment in Brisbane.
He is also listed as co-owner of another investment property in Brisbane, along with his wife Kirrily.