Property Council of Australia
{{Short description|Australian national lobby group representing property developers and owners}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
The Property Council of Australia is a prominent industry organisation that represents the Australian property sector, advocating for its growth and positive impact on the nation. Founded in 1969, the Property Council operates across all major capital cities, including Newcastle and Wollongong. The organisation produces industry advocacy, research, events and professional development for the property sector.
History
It was formed as the Building Owners and Managers’ Association of Australia (BOMA) {{circa}} 1966, incorporated in 1969, and assumed its current name in 1996.{{cite news | url=http://theconversation.com/how-the-property-council-is-shaping-the-debate-around-negative-gearing-taxes-61006 | title=How the Property Council is shaping the debate around negative gearing, taxes | work=The Conversation | date=17 January 2016 | accessdate=5 January 2020}}
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison was the organisation's national policy and research manager from 1989 to 1995.{{cite news | url=https://www.afr.com/politics/key-facts-about-scott-morrison-australias-new-prime-minister-20180824-h14g0h | title=Key facts about Scott Morrison, Australia's new prime minister | work=Australian Financial Review | date=24 August 2018 | accessdate=5 January 2020}}
Governance and organisation
The PCA is governed by a national board of directors, and there is a division for each state and territory as well as several special-focus divisions.{{cite web | title=Home | website=Property Council Australia | date=9 April 2024 | url=https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/ | access-date=12 April 2024}} {{as of |April 2024}} former professional footballer Bruce Djite is South Australian executive director.
Activities and functions
The PCA engages in lobbying on a large scale, with its budgets in 2015 reported as including $6.4 million for advocacy, $1 million for communications, and $7.2 million for networking. It engaged in a major television campaign, "Don't Play With Property", ahead of the 2016 federal election seeking to preserve negative gearing.{{cite news | title=Lobbying 101: How interest groups influence politicians and the public to get what they want | work=SmartCompany | date=10 June 2016}} It has been a significant donor to both major political parties.{{cite news | title=Where the property industry's political donations go | work=Australian Financial Review | date=20 July 2019}}
It has campaigned on a broad range of property-related issues, including opposing land tax increases, reducing stamp duty, opposing minimum apartment standards, reforming strata title, opposing increased fees for foreign property purchasers, and opposing land-clearing restrictions.{{cite news | title=Foreign land owners lured back to town after tax surcharge changes | work=Brisbane Times | date=12 December 2019}}{{cite news | title=Seniors' pain and gain in Budget | work=The Sunday Times | date=29 March 2015}}{{cite news | title=Tiny tiff over flat standards | work=Australian Financial Review | date=24 July 2014}}{{cite news | title=Foreign buyer fees playing to gallery: Eslake | work=The Australian | date=27 February 2015}}{{cite news | title=Landlord alert | work=The Australian Financial Review | date=13 August 2016}}{{cite news | title=Land clearing battle moves to High Court | work=Brisbane Times | date=10 June 2019}}