First home buyers in Indigo Shire are paying almost $45,000 more than someone on the NSW side of the Murray River for the same priced property, says Benambra MP Bill Tilley.

In Parliament recently, Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell queried Treasurer Jaclyn Symes on Victorian first home buyers, who she said receive far less support on stamp duty than their NSW counterparts.

In the NSW government’s program first home buyers do not pay stamp duty on properties up to $800,000.

In Beechworth, Chiltern and Rutherglen the Victorian cap is $600,000.

Compounding the problem is the federal government’s First Home Guarantee.

It helps first home buyers by guaranteeing their deposit and removing the need for Lenders Mortgage Insurance, but again the cap for NSW is $750,000 opposed to the Victorian cap that is $100,000 less.

Ms Lovell offered an example comparing Wahgunyah and Corowa.

“A young woman had worked hard to save up her deposit on a $675,000 home,” she said.

“That price exceeded the cap in Victoria for both schemes – it meant an extra $17,785 in stamp duty and $26,664.63 for Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

“Had that home been in Corowa there would be no additional cost.”

Mr Tilley said the lack of parity was pushing first home buyers into NSW.

“It seems ridiculous that when these programs are dreamt up that no one seems to be looking across the river, looking at what our neighbouring state is doing and assessing the unintended consequence of their actions,” he said.

“Seriously why would a first home buyer be buying on this side of the Murray?

“My argument is simple, we are one community here on the Border from Beechworth to Corowa, and the cap should be the same no matter which side of the river you live on.”

We're doing our bit for affordability: government

A Victorian government spokesperson said there was more to do in the affordability space, but only when there are enough homes to go around and more people will be able to afford them.

"Victoria continues to build and approve thousands of more homes than any other state,” they said.

"Whether it's slashing stamp duty for off-the-plan apartments and townhouses or making it easier to build townhouses across the state - Victoria leads the nation for bold housing reform."

In the 12 months to the end of June 2025, Victoria approved 56,000 homes – a seven per cent increase on the previous 12 months and 6100 more homes than NSW and 18,000 more than Queensland.

The Victorian government offers first-home buyers stamp duty exemptions and a $10,000 first home owner grant.

Ms Symes had until 11 October to answer Ms Lovell's Parliamentary Question on Notice.