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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Economy & Trade

Barnaby Joyce claims people who ‘look like’ recent arrivals dominate auctions. Who is he talking about?

From The Guardian · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation politician, claimed that people who appear to be recent arrivals are outbidding Australian buyers at home auctions.
  • This statement was made despite data showing that fewer than 1% of Australian properties are purchased by foreign individuals.
  • The federal race discrimination commissioner warned against blaming migrants for housing affordability issues.

One Nation politician Barnaby Joyce has claimed that "people who look like they’ve recently arrived" are preventing Australians from winning bids at home auctions. Joyce, the member for New England, made these remarks during a television interview, calling for a more sustainable immigration policy.

People in Australia, born in Australia of every creed and colour and gender, get sick of going to a house auction and being knocked out of it by people, to be frank, who look like they’ve recently arrived.

— Barnaby JoyceOne Nation politician Barnaby Joyce explaining his claim about home auctions.

However, his assertion contrasts sharply with official data. Tax office statistics for 2024-25 reveal that foreign persons acquired only 0.5% of all Australian residential property acquisitions, totaling 2,672 properties out of 540,439. In previous years, foreign purchases represented 0.8% and 0.9% of the market. Michael Fotheringham, managing director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, described these numbers as "fleetingly small" and not a "meaningful impact on the market."

They were being knocked out by investors, Barnaby. That’s why we’re changing the tax system.

— Tanya PlibersekLabor minister Tanya Plibersek responding to Barnaby Joyce's claims during a TV panel discussion.

Federal race discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman cautioned against "demonizing migrants" in discussions about housing affordability. While acknowledging the legitimacy of debates around migration and housing, Sivaraman stressed the importance of having a "nuanced, careful discussion about migration without demonising migrants." He noted that singling out specific groups is problematic.

We should be able to have a nuanced, careful discussion about migration without demonising migrants.

— Giridharan SivaramanFederal race discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman commenting on the debate surrounding migration and housing.

Existing Australian property laws, strengthened by recent government budget measures, prohibit non-residents from purchasing most types of Australian property. Foreign buyers must obtain approval from the tax office. The laws permit foreign residents to buy new or near-new dwellings, established homes for redevelopment, off-the-plan properties, and vacant residential land, but not established dwellings typically sold at auction.

The number of non-residents owning property is fleetingly small.

— Michael FotheringhamMichael Fotheringham, managing director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, commenting on foreign property ownership statistics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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