<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Voters have given the federal government's major </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/budget-property-rules-negative-gearing/ae8f96d1-b31e-49d6-9290-ef72b868c346" rel="" target="" title="housing tax reforms"><span>housing tax reforms</span></a><span> a cautious nod of approval in one of the first polls since the budget, as Anthony Albanese and senior ministers fan out across the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="country"><span>country</span></a><span> to spruik the changes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it's not all good news for Labor, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor edging in front as preferred prime minister for the first time in the Resolve Political Monitor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The poll for </span><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="The Sydney Morning Herald"><em><span>The Sydney Morning Herald</span></em></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="The Age"><em><span>The Age</span></em></a><span> found 36 per cent of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-labor-accuses-the-opposition-of-running-scare-campaign-over-death-tax/c0f3618b-8da0-4cd1-81d4-c96d37717a9d" rel="" target="" title="respondents support"><span>respondents support</span></a><span> the government's capital gains tax changes, while 21 per cent are opposed.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Watch the video above.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another 42 per cent remain undecided, underlining how politically charged the debate has become.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The broader polling picture was less encouraging for Labor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government's primary vote slipped two points to 29 per cent, while One Nation climbed to 24 per cent. The Coalition sat on 23 per cent.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/federal-politics-australia-new-budget-poll-reveals-mixed-verdict-for-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor/87438a42-390b-4a9c-9c96-5fe1b52e07b7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taylor pipped Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister, leading 33-30, with 37 per cent undecided.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-negative-gearing-changes-what-is-it-everything-you-need-to-know/c37e11e6-9cdb-4420-b3fc-fcf908df8d67" rel="" target="" title="Why you should care about negative gearing "><strong><span>Why you should care about negative gearing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The polling lands as federal leaders launch a nationwide campaign to win support for the budget's headline housing measures, including major changes to negative gearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But business groups, start-ups and property industry figures are warning the reforms could hurt investment and add strain to the rental market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the government's overhaul, existing properties purchased after 7.30pm on budget night can only be negatively geared until July 1 next year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After that date, negative gearing will apply only to newly built homes and to investment properties bought before the budget announcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-about-75000-aussies-to-see-19000-slashed-from-house-prices--but-not-for-years/d699ae2d-e746-4a9e-88f1-0cc0d5099118" rel="" target="" title="Why it could take years for first buyers to benefit from housing tax reforms"><strong><span>Why it could take years for first buyers to benefit from housing tax reforms</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prime minister said the policy was designed to give younger Australians a better chance at buying a home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The investor who is bidding against someone who wants to live in that home as their first home won't have the taxpayer by their side," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At auctions across Sydney over the weekend, some first home buyers said they believed the reforms could ease competition from investors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In the past, we may have been competing with a lot of investors, but now with everything that's happened, that may change slightly," Matt Beck said.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/5_c0QcdhEHS776bY_0Z1cSY20KY=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F05%2F771874%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another buyer, Annie Ird, said the mood among sellers appeared unsettled after the budget announcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Places that were up for auction are now going for sale, so I feel like people are freaking out a little bit," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair missed out on a home at auction on Saturday but said they remained hopeful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Housing economist Andrew Wilson said the market was likely entering a transition period as investor numbers ease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think we'll see fewer buyers. And there should be a transition period between fewer investors and more first home buyers."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Coalition argues the reforms will reduce investment and increase rental costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-changes-to-negative-gearing-capital-gains-tax-discount-explained/0a2e7bcf-5c7b-42bc-88d1-788c34aa9eb2" rel="" target="" title="Chalmers takes a razor blade to negative gearing and CGT discount"><strong><span>Chalmers takes a razor blade to negative gearing and CGT discount</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're going to increase rents, build fewer homes and kneecap young Australians by taxing their first home deposit when it's invested," shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasury modelling predicts the policy will slow house price growth by about 2 per cent over the next two years, while rents could rise by an average of $2 a week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilson said lower house price growth was likely in the short term.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think in the shorter term it will put house prices under pressure. There's no doubt about that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For buyers like Beck, the debate goes beyond investment returns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This isn't an investment property search, it's a place to live," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>