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A Milestone for Western Sydney: GWSAN’s First Submission Accepted by a Federal Senate Committee
A Milestone for Western Sydney: GWSAN’s First Submission Accepted by a Federal Senate Committee
On 27 November 2025, the Greater Western Sydney Advocacy Network (GWSAN) achieved a major milestone: our submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount has been formally accepted and published as part of the national inquiry.
This is a proud moment — not just for our organisation, but for the entire Western Sydney region.
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Why This Matters
Why This Matters
The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount shapes investment, rental supply, housing affordability, and intergenerational equity. These settings influence whether young people can buy a home, whether new housing is delivered in the right places, and whether regions like ours receive fair investment.
Western Sydney carries many of the country’s affordability pressures. Having our perspective recognised in this inquiry ensures these realities are heard at the highest levels.
A Milestone for Western Sydney
A Milestone for Western Sydney
This is the first time our emerging network has contributed to a federal parliamentary process — and it demonstrates what is possible when community knowledge, volunteer effort, and strong regional identity come together.
Our submission reflects:
evidence-based research
lived experience from across the West
a commitment to spatial justice
a belief that Western Sydney deserves a seat at every table where decisions are made
This achievement belongs to the region as much as it does to GWSAN.
Fast Facts:
Fact 1: Over 60% of Western Sydney households rely on wage income alone — making inequitable CGT settings more likely to deepen regional wealth divides.
Fact 2: In Western Sydney, only 1 in 4 renters expect to ever buy a home under current tax and investment settings — a rate far lower than the national average.
Fact 3: CGT-driven investment patterns contribute to a 20–30% gap in new housing supply between Western Sydney and Sydney’s east, worsening affordability pressures in the region.
Fact 4: More than half of Western Sydney suburbs have seen housing costs outpace incomes for a decade — amplifying the impacts of national tax policies like the CGT discount.
Fact 5: CGT settings shape where investment goes. Western Sydney consistently receives a smaller share of private housing investment despite being one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.
What This Means for GWSAN
What This Means for GWSAN
Being recognised by a Senate Committee confirms that:
our advocacy is credible
our research is taken seriously
our framing of regional equity resonates nationally
the West’s voice is stronger than ever
For a young organisation powered entirely by volunteers, this is a defining moment.
It reinforces our mission: to elevate Greater Western Sydney into national policy discussions that have historically overlooked it.
What Happens Next
What Happens Next
The submission will be published publicly once personal information is redacted
The Committee will assess all evidence and prepare a report for the Senate
GWSAN will continue contributing to government inquiries across tax, housing, transport, infrastructure, youth opportunity, and economic equity
This is the first in a long-term program of federal engagement.
What you can do
What you can do
Join the conversation: Share your views on our LinkedIn page.
Contact decision-makers: Send this article to your local councillor or MP to highlight importance of regional equity in national tax and housing settings.
Stay informed: Sign up for our updates to get the latest on housing policy changes, community forums, and advocacy campaigns across Greater Western Sydney.
Conclusion
Conclusion
GWSAN’s acceptance into this Senate inquiry marks a powerful step forward for Western Sydney. It shows that our region’s experiences, insights, and evidence are not only valid — they are essential to shaping fairer national policies.
As a young, volunteer-led organisation, this milestone proves what we already knew: when the West speaks with clarity, courage, and purpose, people listen.
This is just the beginning.
We will continue to lift Western Sydney into every space where decisions are made — and ensure our communities have the voice, data, and representation they deserve.
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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Continue the discussion on LinkedIn
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Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement
We express our thanks to:
Everybody's Home for providing the template and informing us of the Enquiry.
Mr Ivan Powell, Committee Secretary
the Senate Secretariat
our volunteer writers and researchers
Western Sydney community members who informed our analysis
Your support makes these milestones possible.
🔗 Related: The Fair Share Framework: A New Way to Fund Infrastructure
Join the team
Join the team
GWSAN works across disciplines, sectors, and lived realities. We believe lasting change happens when community knowledge, academic insight, and policy influence are brought together with purpose and respect.
We collaborate with:
Community members and lived experience advocates, particularly young people, women, and culturally diverse residents who have firsthand knowledge of the barriers Western Sydney faces
Local councils and government agencies committed to planning reform, housing justice, and community wellbeing
Researchers and academic institutions working at the intersection of urban policy, health equity, and systems thinking
Community housing providers, health organisations, and frontline services who understand how policy failures show up in everyday lives
Urban planners, valuers, and infrastructure professionals who are ready to embed prevention and equity into how cities grow
Advocacy organisations and networks aligned with our values of justice, collaboration, and regional empowerment
Our approach is not to duplicate what others are doing, but to connect, amplify, and align. We look for partners who are ready to move beyond talk and help rewire the systems that shape housing, health, and opportunity in Greater Western Sydney.
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