Senior Liberals Are Popping Up On Real Estate "For Sale" Signs

"They are not even trying to hide the conflict of interest here."

These real estate signs showing the assistant treasurer, Kelly O'Dwyer, are turning up all around the inner-Melbourne seat of Higgins.

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The posters are printed on agency signs, including for Ray White and Kay & Burton, and in tiny print at the bottom are authorisations to comply with electoral advertising rules.

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But it's not just O'Dwyer. In the neighbouring electorate of Kooyong there's resources minister Josh Frydenberg smiling back from a Ray White sign.

Kieran Bennett @KieranBennett

Your local MP, bought and paid for by Ray White... #auspol #ausvotes

03:34 AM - 15 Jun 2016

According to Greens candidate for Higgins, Jason Ball, the signs are linked to the Liberal party's promise to oppose changes to negative gearing.

Julian Smith / AAPIMAGE

"I mean, really, they are not even trying to hide the conflict of interest here," said Ball.

"[Negative gearing] distorts our tax system and locks homebuyers out of the market. It helps people buy their fourth and fifth property instead of helping people buy their first."

The Labor opposition has pledged to reform negative gearing if elected, and the Greens want it abolished altogether. Real estate agents and the Property Council of Australia recently launched a media campaign, arguing any changes to negative gearing would crash the hot housing market in capital cities.

Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said earlier this year of Labor's negative gearing policy: "The consequence of it will be a decline in property prices, every home owner in Australia has a lot to fear from Bill Shorten."

A spokesperson for O'Dwyer told BuzzFeed News, "The signs are an example of the support Ms O’Dwyer has in the community. All political parties including the Greens and Nick Xenophon receive donations".

Malcolm Farnsworth @mfarnsworth

A number of these in Glenferrie Rd.

03:18 AM - 14 Jun 2016

A spokesperson for Josh Frydenberg said "all rules have been complied with" and that "it's not uncommon for all sides of politics to put up real estate boards ahead of an election".

The real estate agencies involved in the signs would not reply to repeated requests for comment.

Meanwhile, if you look at the electorates that benefit most from negative gearing, well, there at the top of the list are the electorates of Kooyong and Higgins.

tai.org.au